South Sudan's Transnational Networks

The Rift Valley Institute published in March 2018 a study titled "The Role of Transnational Networks and Mobile Citizens in South Sudan's Global Community: A Pilot Study Focused on Melbourne and Juba" by Cedric Barnes, Freddie Carver, Santino Atem Deng, Gabriel Kiir, Nicki Kindersley, Rebecca Lorins and Sarah Maher.

The study takes a holistic approach to the dynamics of the South Sudanese transnational community and its impact within South Sudan. International migrations since the 1960s have created a global South Sudanese community that has been fundamental to the challenging process of forming a South Sudanese state. These networks have also undermined political and civil responsibility within South Sudan. The research confirms the extreme challenges faced by South Sudanese communities in their locations of displacement, in this case Australia.

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. 

Cooperation Agreements between Two Sudans

South Sudan. Flickr/BBC

Jok Madut Jok reviewed in a 5 December 2012 policy brief for the Sudd Institute, an independent research organization based in Juba, the nine agreements reached in September in Addis Ababa between Sudan and South Sudan.

The agreements deal with oil revenue sharing, trade, security, borders, citizenship, population movements and debt. He argues that South Sudan signed the agreements under the "duress" of international pressure and and the press of domestic economic and security challenges. He believes South Sudan received a bad deal on several of the economic agreements. Nevertheless, he urges South Sudan to move forward with their implementation.

Click here to read the analysis.

Sudan and South Sudan

Aljazeera asked me to comment on 3 August on the reported agreement between Sudan and South Sudan on the oil revenue sharing agreement.

If the agreement is confirmed by both sides, I suggested this is a major breakthrough in resolving differences between the two sides. There are, however, at least two other issues that are preventing a reconciliation between Khartoum and Juba.

Some 500,000 to 700,000 persons of southern origin reside in Sudan without legal protection. Khartoum does not allow dual citizenship for southern Sudanese and the government of South Sudan has not been able to provide these persons, some of whom have never lived in South Sudan, with legal papers. In the meantime, they are treated as foreigners and subject to potential abuse. There are also citizenship issues for southerners who have returned to South Sudan.

The security concerns revolve around Abyei, Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile regions. A referendum was to have taken place in Abyei in January 2011 to determine whether it remained in the north or joined the south. The referendum never took place. Abyei remains in dispute. The SPLM-North is active in Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan, both of which are considered part of Sudan. The SPLM-North is trying to topple the government in Khartoum, which has resulted in a harsh response from Khartoum's military forces. The problem is complicated in Southern Kordofan, where there is considerable oil.

Even if the agreement on oil revenue sharing is implemented,it will be difficult to reach agreement on these other issues.

Nationality Issues in South Sudan

Refugees International has just released a brief field report titled South Sudan Nationality: Commitment Now Avoids Conflict Later. It makes the argument that the longer the period of departure of southern Sudanese from Sudan and their recognition as South Sudan nationals, the more vulnerable southerners will be to violence, exclusion and poverty. To ensure the successful transition of South Sudan as a functioning nation, an identity must emerge that trumps competing ethnic, religious and regional interests. Citizenship should be based on place of birth or familial origin without any regards to the person's color, faith, tribe, ethnicity or other attribute.

Click here to read the field report.