South Sudan Research Articles

Rural Murle Age-Set Men Tackling Elites in South Sudan

The Murle age system is often presented in a negative light in the South Sudan conflict reporting, which links age-set activities to communal violence, cattle rustling, and the abduction of women and children. Such assessments by outsiders overlook the positive effects of age-sets on interethnic relations in rural areas, where young people follow the Murle tradition and navigate the complex influence networks of Murle society. We focus on pastoral Murle youth in Pibor born in the 1980s and 1990s—that is, the laŋo age-set. By drawing on in-depth life-story interviews, this article studies how Murle laŋo masculinity is constructed, embodied, and negotiated. The analysis of our ethnographic data exemplifies how early childhood emotional bonds with caregivers, conflicts, and marginalisation impact the life trajectory of one Murle man. Our results show the connectedness of political orientation, tradition, and masculinity to intergenerational conflict and competition for political and societal power in Murle society. The study increases our understanding of Murle laŋo men’s survival strategies. Specifically, it shows that these rural marginalised Murle youth build alliances beyond kinship and ethnic ties, defend land, advance the goal of peace with neighbours, volunteer for unpaid community work to fight idleness, and act as a counter force to prevent manipulation by political and military leaders. Zɔɔz Zɔɔz nici ɔp bayiz ci ɔl o maac een murle abaak Murla, ki gɔl ci bayizo, ki gɔl ci ganonto been culanɛ ci kobɛkɛ ɔl kaal. Gi ci titiny bayize ceen murlen nɛɛn, buluwa kibeen kerenɛ ogi o murle gɔɔn anya bayiz o gɛɛr gɔɔn aruwɔn ɔl, ma kɔran tiin moda ma kagaman ŋai ki dɔɔl ci modo. Mazin liŋliŋɔnti nici aŋamnek kaal o abon agɔɔn bulowa o abaak murla loce o ɔl o kolik een junup ŋawo azɔɔzi kaal o bayiz uneŋ murlo. Ma golowa ci kaŋamneka kalyanit o bayiz o een murlen, ayelza rɔŋrɔŋanɔnɛt ci arɔrɔŋanɔn nigi ki, gɔɔl ci adiŋdiŋani Jowanɛ o adilyai, gɔl ci siaso, ki kɛranɛ, ki kaal ci akati ŋayetin ki jorɛnɛɛn zɛɛ been ŋɛrɔn ci aŋɛrɔɔn alata o murlo aŋɛrɛ sias giye ci arɔɔŋi rum o. Bayizi ween aturuwen aroŋnyi, ayelzai bule o kazi lango, agamta nigi bayiz ci aromɛn niŋgi dook kodoye, ma arican ganɔɔn ma buk ɔp calaŋ aŋɛɛr nɔgɔ siasa karabɔŋ een zɔɔz ci takirzetu. Keywords: masculinity, laŋo, life story, tradition, elites, Murle, South Sudan

The effect of integrated marketing communications on the performance of private banks in Juba, South Sudan

The effect of integrated marketing communications on the performance of private banks in Juba, South Sudan

The 2023 South Sudanese outbreak of Hepatitis E emphasizes ongoing circulation of genotype 1 in North, Central, and East Africa

In April 2023, an outbreak of acute hepatitis was reported amongst internally displaced persons in the Nazareth community of South Sudan. IgM serology-based screening suggested the likely etiologic agent to be Hepatitis E virus (HEV). In this study, plasma specimens collected from anti-HEV IgM-positive cases were subjected to additional RT-qPCR testing and sequencing of extracted nucleic acids, resulting in the recovery of five full and eight partial HEV genomes. Maximum likelihood phylogenetic reconstruction confirmed the genomes belong to HEV genotype 1. Using distance-based methods, we show that genotype 1 is best split into three sub-genotypes instead of the previously proposed seven, and that these sub-genotypes are geographically restricted. The South Sudanese sequences confidently cluster within sub-genotype 1e, endemic to northeast, central, and east Africa. Bayesian Inference of phylogeny incorporating sampling dates shows that this new outbreak is not directly descended from other recent local outbreaks for which sequence data is available. However, the analysis suggests that sub-genotype 1e has been consistently and cryptically circulating locally for at least the past half century and that the known outbreaks are often not directly descended from one another. The ongoing presence of HEV, combined with poor sanitation and hygiene in the conflict-affected areas in the region, place vulnerable populations at risk for infection and its more serious effects, including progression to fulminant hepatitis.

Conflict and Security Management in Lire Payam, South Sudan: Assessing the Impact of Land-Related Disputes and Security Strategies

Conflict and Security Management in Lire Payam, South Sudan: Assessing the Impact of Land-Related Disputes and Security Strategies

Possibilities and limitations of anticipatory action in complex crises: acting in advance of flooding in South Sudan.

Little evidence exists on the design and implementation of anticipatory action (AA) in complex crises. This article examines a 2022 United Nations 'early action' pilot in South Sudan in advance of extreme flooding. As a case study of efforts to act in a complex crisis, it contributes to learning on assisting conflict-affected and displaced populations in advance of extreme weather events. The research points towards the possibility and value of implementing forecast-informed early action in complex contexts with limited forecast skills and multiple hazards when trigger-based AA is not possible. It also argues for the need to link AA implemented in complex crises to development and peacebuilding actors and processes. More broadly, examining the perceptions and processes of AA in the form of early action, rather than a formal AA framework, is highly relevant for the AA community as attention is increasingly placed on providing AA in countries affected by fragility and conflict.

Xylopia nilotica (Annonaceae) in Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, and Uganda, with a review of the genus in North Eastern Tropical Africa

Based on written records and specimens of the new species, Xylopia nilotica D. M. Johnson & N. A. Murray (2018), described from Uganda and west of the Nile in Sudan and South Sudan, we have mapped the species. We find that it also occurs east of the Nile in South Sudan and in western Ethiopia. Its habitats range from open rain forest to open woodland. Modelling the potential distribution of X. nilotica suggests that it occurs in the periphery of the upper Nile basin, but it is probably undercollected. The potential distributions of X. longipetala (a Guineo-Congolian species) and X. holtzii Engl. (an East African coastal species), distinct but previously considered conspecific with X. nilotica, only marginally overlap with that of X. nilotica, which is endemic to the countries Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan, and Ethiopia, apparently a unique pattern of endemism. The new information does not change the assessment of X. nilotica as Vulnerable (VU). Other species of Xylopia in North Eastern Tropical Africa are X. rubescens Oliver and X. thomsonii Oliver in the Equatoria region of South Sudan, and X. rubescens, X. staudtii Engl. & Diels, and X. aethiopica (Dunal) A. Rich. in Uganda. A record of X. aethiopica in Ethiopia is based on false label information on the only known specimen.

P019 HYPERTENSION PREVALENCE, HEALTH POLICY, AND GUIDELINES MAPPING: A COMPARATIVE ANALYTIC STUDY ACROSS NINE AFRICAN COUNTRIES 2024

Background: Hypertension, a global burden, increases mortality from cardiovascular and kidney diseases. Worldwide, in 2019, an estimated 1.3 billion adults developed hypertension. In Africa, the cumulative estimated prevalence of hypertension is ∼30.8%. Main Objective: To perform a comparative analysis between African countries focusing on hypertension prevalence, health policy, and guidelines mapping. Methods: A descriptive comparative analytic study compared hypertension data from nine African countries: Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan, in 2024. Data included hypertension prevalence, health policy, guidelines’ mapping, and hypertension management responses. Mixed statistical methods of content analysis, percentages, means, and Spearman's correlations were used. Results: Hypertension prevalence varied from 27% in Ethiopia to 43% in Eswatini. Females consistently had higher prevalence than males, 30% in Ethiopia to 47% in Eswatini, suggesting gender-specific risk factors or disparities in healthcare access/utilization. Sudan had the second-highest prevalence 44%. Eswatini implemented strong blood pressure control measures, unlike Sudan. High prevalence was also found in countries with strong policies (Eswatini, Kenya, Nigeria, South Sudan), suggesting urgent improved healthcare delivery, policy enforcement, and addressing other risk factors. Ghana and Somalia had lower hypertension prevalence, though fewer policies. Spearman's test showed strong negative correlations between national responses and hypertension prevalence. Salt Intake Surveys had the strongest negative correlation (-0.707) with hypertension prevalence, highlighting countries like Ethiopia and Malawi with salt intake surveys and lower prevalence, reinforcing dietary factors’ effectiveness in managing hypertension. Kenya, Nigeria, and Ethiopia leverage trained non-physician health workers in hypertension management, thereby, improving treatment access and adherence. Treatment guidelines were moderately negatively correlated (-0.335) with hypertension prevalence. The mere presence of guidelines is insufficient, signifying their implementation and enhancement with targeted interventions Conclusions: These findings highlighted the multifaceted nature of hypertension in African countries which requires comprehensive approaches encompassing considerations of gender, socioeconomic factors, lifestyle, salt reduction, policy implementation, healthcare access, and a unified African hypertension guideline.

Going ‘cold turkey’: Oil addiction and ‘traumatic’ decarbonization in fragile fossil fuel producers

Decarbonization, or the replacement of fossil fuels by renewables or ‘cleaner’ forms of energy, is an essential response to global warming. A gap in the debate on decarbonization is its implications for fragile fossil fuel-producing states (FFFPs). Unable to implement strategies for planned decarbonization, FFFPs face the prospect of rapid, unmanaged ‘traumatic’ decarbonization. This paper examines the political economy of this phenomenon drawing on six countries that have experienced dramatic losses in carbon revenues in the recent past: Ecuador, Iraq, Nigeria, South Sudan, Sudan and Venezuela. It also draws on two thematic papers – on peace-making during oil shocks and a review of the literature on energy transition in fragile states. The paper finds that in decarbonizing FFFPs, the rules of the political game tend to be ‘sticky’ and elites react to the loss of oil revenues by looking for alternate sources of rent and turning to coercion. Political settlements including peace agreements are structured around the allocation of oil rents to elites and their future viability is in question. We find only modest evidence for sustainable and democratic paths away from a carbon-based political settlement, despite the efforts of civic movements.

South Sudan: Rising Abductions

South Sudan: Rising Abductions

Kinematics of rift linkage between the Eastern and Ethiopian rifts in the Turkana Depression, Africa

AbstractRift initiation within cold, thick, strong lithosphere and the evolving linkage to form a contiguous plate boundary remains debated in part owing to the lack of time–space constraints on kinematics of basement‐involved faults. Different rift sectors initiate diachronously and may eventually link to produce a jigsaw spatial pattern, as in the East African rift, and along the Atlantic Ocean margins. The space–time distribution of earthquakes illuminates the geometry and kinematics of fault zones within the crystalline crust, as well as areas with pressurized magma bodies. We use seismicity and Global Navigation System Satellites (GNSS) data from the Turkana Rift Array Investigating Lithospheric Structure (TRAILS) project in East Africa and a new digital compilation of faults and eruptive centres to evaluate models for the kinematic linkage of two initially separate rift sectors: the Main Ethiopian Rift (MER) and the Eastern rift (ER). The ca. 300 km wide zone of linkage includes failed basins and linkage zones; seismicity outlines active structures. Models of GNSS data indicate that the ca. 250 km‐wide zone of seismically active en echelon basins north of the Turkana Depression is a zone, or block, of distributed strain with small counterclockwise rotation that serves to connect the Main Ethiopian and Eastern rifts. Its western boundary is poorly defined owing to data gaps in South Sudan. Strain across the northern and southern boundaries of this block, and an ca. 50 km‐wide kink in the southern Turkana rift is accommodated by en echelon normal faults linked by short strike‐slip faults in crystalline basement, and relay ramps at the surface. Short segments of obliquely oriented basement structures facilitate across‐rift linkage of faults, but basement shear zones and Mesozoic rift faults are not actively straining. This configuration has existed for at least 2–5 My without the development of localized shear zones or transform faults, documenting the importance of distributed deformation in continental rift tectonics.

Improving rapid flood impact assessment: An enhanced multi-sensor approach including a new flood mapping method based on Sentinel-2 data

Rapid flood impact assessment methods need complete and accurate flood maps to provide reliable information for disaster risk management, in particular for emergency response and recovery and reconstruction plans. With the aim of improving the rapid assessment of flood impacts, this work presents a new impact assessment method characterized by an enhanced satellite multi-sensor approach for flood mapping, which improves the characterization of the hazard. This includes a novel flood mapping method based on the new multi-temporal Modified Normalized Difference Water Index (MNDWI) that uses multi-temporal statistics computed on time-series of Sentinel-2 multi-spectral satellite images. The multi-temporal aspect of the MNDWI improves characterization of land cover over time and enhances the temporary flooded areas, which can be extracted through a thresholding technique, allowing the delineation of more precise and complete flood maps. The methodology, if implemented in cloud-based environments such as Google Earth Engine (GEE), is computationally light and robust, allowing the derivation of flood maps in matters of minutes, also for large areas.The flood mapping and impact assessment method has been applied to the seasonal flood occurred in South Sudan in 2020, using Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2 and PlanetScope satellite imagery. Flood impacts were assessed considering damages to buildings, roads, and cropland. The multi-sensor approach estimated an impact of 57.4 million USD (considering a middle-bound scenario), higher than what estimated by using Sentinel-1 data only, and Sentinel-2 data only (respectively 24% and 78% of the estimation resulting from the multi-sensor approach). This work highlights the effectiveness and importance of considering multi-source satellite data for flood mapping in a context of disaster risk management, to better inform disaster response, recovery and reconstruction plans.

The Influence of Insufficient Banking Infrastructure on the Prevalence of Cattle Raiding in South Sudan, a case study of Jonglei State

The Influence of Insufficient Banking Infrastructure on the Prevalence of Cattle Raiding in South Sudan, a case study of Jonglei State

Oil, gold, and guns: The violent politics of Sudan’s resource re-curse

The green transition and slowdown of global fossil fuel demand present an intriguing question for the future of oil-rich developing countries where less democracy, unstable and inequitable economics, and conflict have long been prevalent. Sudan offers an ex-ante look at the consequences of this transition to a post-oil world. In 2011, Sudan lost three-quarters of its oil resources after South Sudan’s separation. This article explores the impact of decarbonization on Sudan’s political economy and the role of natural resources in shaping its elite politics and foreign relations. It argues that in the short term and mid-term, the Sudanese state was able to weather the loss of most of its oil, with incumbent political elites demonstrating staying power beyond the expiry date of high oil rents. In the long term, however, rather than a diversified economy and democratic alternative emerging, both Sudan’s longstanding predatory political economy and its external exploitative links endured the decline of oil. The rising economic importance of gold, and its political ecology as a dispersed and lootable resource, coupled with opportunities for regional extraversion facilitated the violent rise of new political elites and shaped a shift in Sudan’s main foreign economic partners from China to the Gulf states.

Enhancing Neurosurgical Care in South Sudan: The Role of International Collaborations

Enhancing Neurosurgical Care in South Sudan: The Role of International Collaborations

Sociocultural factors influencing utilization of reproductive health services in selected South Sudan public health facilities

Background: Africa faces significant maternal health challenges, with nearly half of maternal deaths occurring in the region. Insufficient reproductive health services account for 18% of the global disease burden, disproportionately affecting women of reproductive age at 32%. Despite the benefits of family planning, only 13% of married women in Sub-Saharan Africa use contraceptives. This study aimed to identify sociocultural factors influencing the utilization of RHS in South Sudan's public health facilities. Methods: Using a mixed-methods approach, the research combined a longitudinal ecological study and an analytical cross-sectional study. Data from the South Sudan Ministry of Health (2015-2020) were reviewed, and community members and health professionals were surveyed across four levels of the health system in Western and Central Equatoria states. The study focused on women aged 15-49, with 384 respondents selected from various counties. Results: The study indicated that 72.5% of respondents utilized RHS, with family planning and STI prevention/management being the most common services (25.1% each). Maternal/newborn care and HIV counseling/testing followed at 18.1% and 15.3%, respectively. While RHS uptake increased overall, specific declines were noted in the third quarter of each year. Utilization was significantly higher among respondents aged 30 and older, urban residents, and those with higher educational levels. Conclusions: The study highlights a positive trend in RHS uptake but underscores the need to address declines in specific services. Age, residence, and education significantly influence RHS utilization. Policy interventions should consider South Sudan's unique sociocultural contexts and demographics. Enhancing education and awareness, especially in rural areas, is crucial to improving RHS access and reducing maternal mortality rates.

Health facility and workforce factors influencing utilization of reproductive health services in selected South Sudan public health facilities

Background: Despite representing only one-tenth of the global population and 20% of worldwide births, nearly half of all maternal deaths occur in Africa. RH issues account for up to 18% of the global disease burden and 32% for women of reproductive age. Access to essential RH interventions, including family planning, is limited in Sub-Saharan Africa, characterized by low contraceptive use (13%) and a high total fertility rate (5.5 children per woman). Methods: This study used a mixed-method research design, integrating both quantitative and qualitative approaches to provide a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing RH service utilization in South Sudan. This design allowed for in-depth exploration and quantitative analysis of data patterns and trends. Results: The study identified significant barriers to RHS utilization among women in South Sudan. Although many women were aware of the nearest RH clinic, 42.3% were not. Accessibility was a major issue, with 45.8% of women living more than 2 km from the nearest clinic, and the average distance being 2.2 km. Statistically significant relationships were found between health facility characteristics and RHS use. Interviews indicated that higher education levels among healthcare providers improved their skills, critical thinking, and ability to deliver comprehensive RH care, positively influencing service utilization. Conclusions: Key determinants of RHS utilization included awareness of services, proximity to facilities, and availability of contraceptives. The health workforce’s education, staffing levels, workload management, and fair compensation were also critical. To improve RHS utilization, the study recommends community outreach to raise awareness, expand facilities in remote areas, and offer diverse contraceptive options. Future research should address limitations like sampling biases and regional focus, explore broader geographical areas, longitudinal trends, and the impact of specific interventions, and consider technology’s role in enhancing access.

Effect of Innovation Processes on the Financial Growth of Small Scale Businesses in Custom Market, Juba-South Sudan

Innovation refers to the introduction of new products, services, processes, or ideas in conducting businesses. It encompasses both technological advancements and non-technological improvements, such as organizational changes or novel marketing strategies. The main aim of this study was to assess the overall effect of innovation processes on the performance and growth of small-scale businesses in Custom market. The study adapted a descriptive survey design, by quantitative approaches to enrich the understanding of the phenomenon under study. The study adopted; descriptive Statistics; Mean, Percentages, Frequencies, Standard deviation and Inferential Statistics; Correlation analysis to determine the relationships, ANOVA to test the model fitness, and Regression analysis to test the effect of independent variables on the dependent. The research findings stated that, ideas development had a weak positive insignificant relationship with and financial growth. Idea development had no statistical effect on financial growth. It also revealed that based on idea selection had a strong positive significant relationship with financial growth. The findings also indicated Idea implementation had a weak positive insignificant relationship with financial growth and it had no statistical effect on financial growth. It was recommended that business idea development should be done by in-depth exploration of passion, skills and keen observation to identify market gaps and opportunities thus improving financial growth. There is also need for a study to identify customers’ satisfaction factors that can be improved through innovation processes by the small scale businesses in Custom market, Juba South Sudan.

Evaluating the Effectiveness of United Nations Peace-Building Strategies in South Sudan

Evaluating the Effectiveness of United Nations Peace-Building Strategies in South Sudan

A conceptual learning analysis of paired after action and intra action reviews for health emergencies.

Processes of self-reflection and the learning they allow are crucial before, during, and after acute emergencies, including infectious disease outbreaks. Tools-such as Action Reviews-offer World Health Organization (WHO) member states a platform to enhance learning. We sought to better understand the value of these tools and how they may be further refined and better used. We searched the publicly available WHO Strategic Partnership for Health Security website for paired reports of Action Reviews, that is, reports with a comparable follow-up report. We complemented the paired action reviews, with a literature search, including the gray literature. The paired action reviews were analyzed using the "Learning Health Systems" framework. We identified three paired action reviews: Lassa Fever After Action Reviews (AARs) in Nigeria (2017 and 2018), COVID-19 Intra-Action Reviews (IARs) in Botswana (2020 and 2021), and COVID-19 IARs in South Sudan (2020 and 2021). Action Reviews allowed for surfacing relevant knowledge and, by engaging the right (in different contexts) actors, asking "are we doing things right?" (single loop learning) was evident in all the reports. Single loop learning is often embedded within examples of double loop learning ("are we doing the right things?"), providing a more transformative basis for policy change. Triple loop learning ("are we learning right"?) was evident in AARs, and less in IARs. The range of participants involved, the level of concentrated focus on specific issues, the duration available for follow through, and the pressures on the health system to respond influenced the type (i.e., loop) and the effectiveness of learning. Action Reviews, by design, surface knowledge. With favorable contextual conditions, this knowledge can then be applied and lead to corrective and innovative actions to improve health system performance, and in exceptional cases, continuous learning.

Rapid regional mobile laboratory response and genomic monkeypox virus (MPXV) surveillance in seven East African Community partner states, August 2024: preparedness activities for the ongoing outbreak.

The East African Community (EAC) is experiencing an unprecedented, emerging mpox outbreak since July 2024 in five of eight partner states. We highlight rapid regional response measures, initiated August 2024 coordinated by EAC: field deployment of six mobile laboratories in Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, South Sudan to high-risk areas, donation of one mobile laboratory to Democratic Republic of the Congo and genomic monkeypox virus (MPXV) surveillance support. These interventions aim to limit local mpox spread and support international containment.