Initiatives by the African Union and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development in the South Sudan Peace Process, 2013-2023

The war in South Sudan has persisted despite the efforts by different players. This study focused on initiatives by the AU and IGAD to restore peace in South Sudan after civil war between 2013 and 2023. This study was anchored Neoliberal Institutionalism theory to argue that regional organizations supplement the role of states also enhance and reinforce by acting as arbitrators in state disputes. Regional organizations also reinforce and enhance the efforts of states in arbitration of international disputes. This study took an exploratory research design. Both primary and secondary methods of data collection were employed by the study. Purposive and snow balling sampling techniques were used to identify 410 respondents for field interviews. The study purposively identified 385 South Sudanese refugees in Nairobi. A total of 25 other respondents who included; representatives of the warring factions in South Sudan residing in Kenya, IGAD officials, EAC officials and Diplomats from IGAD member states. Data collected was analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. The study findings indicated that both AU and IGAD had failed to restore lasting peace in South Sudan despite efforts made.