The Political Stakes of Displacement in South Sudan

Key Points

This policy brief considers how forced displacement has affected South Sudan, in relation to its neighbours.

The brief shows:

• Humanitarian  aid  is  only  partially  accessible  for  internally  displaced  people  and  returning  displaced people face a myriad of problems.
• The  politics  around  internally  displaced  persons  governance remains  rooted  in  ethnically  polarized divisions resulting in gazetted Protection of Civilian Sites.
• There is a seemingly deliberate policy of the state to create conflict and force civilians to seek refuge in the neighbouring countries.
• Regional  power dynamics  reflect  the  changing  dynamics  of  the  states  in  the  region  in  hosting  South Sudanese refugees. While refugees contribute to the economies of the states in the region, the influx of South Sudanese refugees is also putting immense pressureon resources.
• The changing perception of displaced people in South Sudan and neighbouring Uganda. Displacement is  highly  ethnic  and  politicized  like  never  seen  before,  while cordial relations  between  South  Sudan refugees and host are strained.

The policy brief is published as part of the project Displacement in Africa which is funded by the German Foundation for Peace Research.