Global Governance Area of Conflict: South Sudan

Question 1

What is South Sudan’s background?

Answer 1

• landlocked country, population over 12 million (2015)
• newest sovereign state - gained independence in 2011 -> poor governance & difficulty nation building
• 98% oil generated income
• dependency subsidence agriculture
• Dinka & Nuer = largest ethnic groups

Question 2

What are the living conditions like in South Sudan?

Answer 2

• widespread poverty due to conflict
• industry & infrastructure underdeveloped
• 2013 political in-fighting (ethnic leaders) -> major armed conflict = thousands deaths, 1.5 million IDPs & 730,000 refugees (neighboring countries), 8 million risk food insecurity & 1/3 children suffering malnutrition

Question 3

What interventions/ interactions were there of the UN towards South Sudan?

Answer 3

• peacekeeping mission reinforced new mandate, 2014 - initially supported government in peace consolidation, state-building & economic development
• following 2013 crisis - increased military & police presence (12,500 military personnel & 1,000 police) to consolidate peace & security, protect civilians, monitor human rights & support delivery humanitarian assistance

Question 4

How did other UN agencies attempt to intervene/ interact in terms of aiding South Sudan?

Answer 4

• UNICEF - important due low fertility rates (45% population aged <15)
• WHO - important operating oral cholera vaccination campaign (relieves effort off government keeping health well)
• UNHCR - co-ordinate partnerships UN agencies & South Sudan Government into signing international conventions (refugee protection & assisting displaced people)

Question 5

What UN peacekeepers critiqued the Government of South Sudan and why did they? What example is there of this?

Answer 5

• critiqued by UN Security Council not maintaining peace & protection of citizens & using military solutions over political resolutions
• for example, human rights violations in Unity & Upper Nile province with continued attacks on UN peacekeepers, humanitarian personnel & IDPs

Question 6

How did NGOs respond towards the conflict in South Sudan? What problems were there with the NGO workers?

Answer 6

• worked with UN to assist local communities
• NGO Forum connecting over 350 NGOs addressing humanitarian & development needs (ex. Care South Sudan, Amref, OXFAM & Save the Children)
• harassment & violence against NGO workers forced them to evacuate to Upper Nile region & blocked use of Nile in delivery of food relief -> vulnerable

Question 7

What for did the Government of South Sudan work with IGAD and what were the interactions working with them like?

Answer 7

• worked with IGAD to sign treaties against torture, African Charter on people’s Rights, Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against women & convention on the rights of children
• however lacked co-operation with IGAD presenting long term challenges at alleviating poverty

Question 8

What positive consequences did Global Governance bring to Local Communities?

Answer 8

• aid agencies positioned essentials prior to wet session when roads are difficult to drive on
• vulnerable children received treatment for malnutrition
• expansion of civilian protection camps for IDP
• WHO created cholera treatment centers & access to clean water
• training for villagers helping to maintain their livestock
• co-ordination efforts secured funds from various European Governments

Question 9

What were the negative consequences of Global Governance for Local Communities?

Answer 9

• inhabitants of the Upper Nile & Unity States suffering from blocked transport routes
• aid organisations (dependent upon) extorting their resources e.g. supplies food & medicine
• problems with people having to abandon their homes, starvation & illness & also children forced into military training camps