A Retrospective on Sudan-South Sudan Separation and the Future

 The International Crisis Group posted on 18 August 2026 an hour-long podcast titled "Sudan's Separation Fifteen Years Ago and Today's Disaster" with Alan Boswell, Alex de Waal, and Abdul Mohammed.  

Alex de Waal and Abdul Mohammed review the background of South Sudan's independence from Sudan and the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel led by former South African President Thabo Mbeki.  They explained why negotiations ultimately failed to produce two viable states, and whether such coordinated high-level diplomacy is still possible in today's fragmented regional geopolitics.

Efforts to resolve the crises in Sudan and South Sudan today are experiencing greater involvement from the Gulf States and involve a larger number of competing actors.  Mediation today is extremely difficult.  The global environment is highly transactional.  The situation also has the possibility of becoming a regional war.  It is time for the African Union to step forward and play a stronger role in ending the conflicts.  

Can Chinese Peacekeepers Make a Difference along Sudan/South Sudan Border?

 China-Africa Security Radar published on 9 February 2026 a commentary titled "Can Chinese Peacekeepers Actually Change Anything in Abyei?" by Paa Kwesi Wolseley Prah.

Abyei is an oil rich region along the Sudan-South Sudan border where the China National Petroleum Corporation has been the major operator.  A UN peacekeeping force (UNISFA) with Chinese participation is stationed there.  The author questions whether the newest Chinese peacekeeping unit assigned to UNISFA will make any difference in the outcome.  

Sudan/South Sudan: Abyei Climate, Peace and Security Fact Sheet

 The Norwegian Institute of International Affairs and SIPRI published in December 2025 a report titled "Abyei: Climate, Peace and Security Fact Sheet."

Abyei's contested status, its weak governance, and elite-driven politics continue to fuel insecurity.  Increasing climate variability undermines food security and livelihood activities, particularly livestock and seasonal pastoralism.  Intensifying seasonal hazards, such as floods, drive displacement and worsen the humanitarian crisis in Abyei.

Reviving Sudan-South Sudan Dialogue on Abyei

 The UN Political and Peace Building Affairs Department posted on 5 November 2025 the remarks by special envoy of the Secretary General for the Horn of Africa Guang Cong to the UN Security Council on Sudan and South Sudan.

The civil war in Sudan is exacerbating the humanitarian situation in the disputed region of Abyei along the Sudan-South Sudan border and has interrupted negotiations for a settlement.  There are recent indications that both Sudan and South Sudan are willing to revive the African Union-led political process regarding Abyei's future.  

Dilemma for Tigrayans in Sudan

 The Sudan Tribune published on 7 September 2022 an article titled "UN Reports 'Forced' Recruitment of Ethiopia Refugees in Sudan" by Tesfa-Alem Tekle.  

Tigrayan refugees who fled to Sudan two years ago at the outbreak of conflict between Tigray Region and the central government are reportedly being recruited to join the Tigrayan defense Forces.  They are joined by some of the Tigrayan troops assigned several years ago as Ethiopian peacekeepers with the UN mission in Abyei along the Sudan-South Sudan border.  Once conflict broke out between Tigray and the central government, Addis Ababa questioned their loyalty and ordered them back to Ethiopia.  Fearing they would be detained, they refused to return and remained in Sudan.   

Tigrayans in UN Peacekeeping Mission Fear Return to Ethiopia

 The Associated Press published on 23 February 2022 an article titled "Tigrayans in UN Peacekeeping Force Fear Return to Ethiopia" by Cara Anna.

Ethiopian troops have constituted most of the UN peacekeeping force in Abyei on the border of Sudan and South Sudan.  At least some of the Tigrayans in the force reportedly are unwilling to return to Ethiopia for fear of how they will be treated by the central government.  

Climate-related Security Issues along Sudan-South Sudan Border

 The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute published on 23 September 2021 an analysis titled "Abyei Offers Lessons for the Region on Climate-related Security Risks" by Kheira Tarif, Emilie Broek, and Katongo Seyuba.  

The conflict in the Sudan-South Sudan border area of Abyei offers valuable lessons for UN peacekeeping operations on the importance of recognizing and responding to climate-related security risks.  Climate factors complicate the security situation.  

Sudan and South Sudan: Time to Resolve Issue of Abyei

African Arguments published on 21 October 2019 a commentary titled "Abyei: Sudan and South Sudan's New Chance to Solve Old Disputes" by John Prendergast and Brian Adeba.

The status of the Abyei border area has been deadlocked since South Sudan's independence in 2011. Sudan and South Sudan each control parts of Abyei. The authors suggest now is the time for internationally supported mediation to bring this issue to a close.

Possible Conflict in Sudan/South Sudan Border Area

Foreign Policy posted on 6 June 2018 a commentary titled "Conflict in Abyei Could Reignite South Sudan's Civil War" by Sam Mednick.

The author concludes that if the United Nations withdraws Ethiopian peacekeepers from the long-contested and oil rich enclave of Abyei, it is likely to spark further fighting in an already unstable region.

Keeping the Hotline Open between Sudan and South Sudan

The International Crisis Group published on 13 April 2018 a commentary titled "Keeping the Hotline Open Between Sudan and South Sudan."

A set of cooperation agreements between Sudan and South Sudan has largely held and has formed the basis of their bilateral relations ever since. The UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) and the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism are largely responsible for this development. The International Crisis Group urges that they remain in place.

South Sudan over the Past Year

The Rift Valley Institute published on 26 May 2016 an overview titled "This Year in South Sudan" by Douglas Johnson and Guma Kunda Komey. It provides a brief review of key political and economic developments in South Sudan over the past year.

US Policy on Sudan and South Sudan

Donald Booth, US Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, gave a major policy speech on US relations with both countries at the Atlantic Council in Washington on 9 October 2014.  You can access the podcast and his written remarks titled "U.S. Policy on Sudan and South Sudan: The Way Forward" on the Atlantic Council website.

His remarks on South Sudan were a frank and hard hitting analysis of the failures in that country since independence.  He emphasized the United States remains committed to helping the people of South Sudan.  He was equally critical of the situation in Sudan but set down principles for a normalization of relations. 

South Sudan: Francis Deng Tries to Put on Best Face

Foreign Policy published on 14 July 2014 an article titled "Responsibility to Protect the Bad Guys" by Colum Lynch.  It is an analysis of efforts by Francis Deng, South Sudan's permanent representative to the United Nations, to put the best face on developments in South Sudan. 

Sudan/South Sudan: Looming Crisis in Abyei

The !Enough Project published on 13 March 2014 an analysis titled "Looming Crisis: Open Wounds in Abyei Increase Risk of New War" by Maiwen Dot Pheot.  The author writes that armed youth and dissatisfied cadres within the South Sudanese army in the area seem to be interested in provoking a confrontation, both with the nomadic Misseriya who graze their animals in Abyei and the Sudanese government. 

U.S. Policy toward Sudan and South Sudan

The House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations held a hearing on 26 February 2014 titled "U.S. Policy toward Sudan and South Sudan."  The hearing, chaired by Chairman Smith, examined the need for a more unified, wider- ranging and proactive policy that can advance long-term U.S. goals in Sudan and South Sudan. 

The full text of the opening statements of each witness is available by clicking the name of the witness.  The witnesses included Donald Booth, special envoy to Sudan and South Sudan, U.S. Department of State; John Prendergast, co-founder, Enough Project; Walid Phares, co-secretary general, Transatlantic Group on Counter Terrorism; and Adotei Akwei, managing director for government relations, Amnesty International US. 

Sudan, South Sudan and Abyei

The Sudd Institute, an independent research organization based in Juba, published on 29 October 2013 an analysis titled "Abyei Final Status: A Mismanaged and Unyielding Stalemate" by Zacharia Diing Akol, director of training at the Sudd Institute. 

The analysis concludes that the only way to break the deadlock over Abyei is for the African Union and especially the AU Peace and Security Council to endorse the proposal of the AU High Level Implementation Panel, which is under the chairmanship of former South African president Thabo Mbeki.  This proposal called for the long-delayed referendum on the future of Abyei to take place in October 2013. 

South Sudan Focus Groups on Constitution-Making

The National Democratic Institute for International Affairs published in June 2013 a focus group study titled "From a Transitional to a Permanent Constitution: Views of Men and Women in South Sudan on Constitution-Making."  There were 46 focus group discussions in rural, urban, and peri-urban areas across the 10 states of South Sudan.  The discussions covered a wide range of issues.  The authors of the published summary are Traci D. Cook, Leben Nelson Moro and Onesimo Yabang Lo-Lujo. 

UN Security Council and Sudan Peace Process

The Enough Project released on 7 November 2012 a brief paper calling for more engagement by the UN Security Council in the Sudan peace process.

Click here to read the recommendations.

Sudan and South Sudan: Issues for the U.S.

The U.S. Congressional Research Service published a thoughtful report on 5 October 2012 titled "Sudan and South Sudan: Current Issues for Congress and U.S. Policy." The author is Lauren Ploch Blanchard.

The report examines the shared interests and outstanding disputes between the Sudans after separation, and gives an overview of political, economic, and humanitarian conditions in the two countries, with a focus on possible implications for U.S. policy and congressional engagement.

Click here to read the report.

Sudan-South Sudan Negotiations

The Enough Project published on 6 September 2012 an update on the status of Sudan-South Sudan negotiations. Written by Amanda Hsiao, click here to read the document.