South Sudan: state sovereignty challenged at infancy

Abstract

South Sudan is losing control over its territory. The state was born prematurely into a conflict society where fragility is manifested through multiple challenges. Although the emerging state fulfilled the declarative requirements of a state in international law, the tools needed to build a sovereign state were lacking and South Sudan descended rapidly into another civil war and disorder. The theoretical significance of this paper lies in its explanation of the theory of sovereignty with relevance to the emergence of South Sudan as a state. It examines how post-conflict policies, decisions, and practical actions have influenced trends of national sovereignty. A variety of conflicts, and political violence and poor infrastructure in particular, challenge the capacity of South Sudan to maintain control over its territory. Using descriptive research approaches this paper concludes that legacies of prolonged civil war including unresolved issues within the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, politico-military incongruent policies, and communal violence present serious challenges to the Government of South Sudan as it struggles to sustain its independence.