A Policy Analysis of Women's Political Participation in South Sudan: Barriers and Pathways, 2021–2026

This policy analysis examines the structural and socio-cultural barriers constraining women's political participation in South Sudan during the critical transitional period of 2021–2026. It interrogates the implementation gap between the affirmative action provisions of the Revitalised Peace Agreement and women's lived realities. Employing a rigorous qualitative methodology, the study analyses national policy frameworks, party manifestos, and South Sudanese civil society reports, triangulated with election observation data. The findings reveal that despite a constitutional 35% quota, women face entrenched patriarchal norms, systematic economic disenfranchisement, and targeted political violence, which collectively curtail candidacy and meaningful engagement. The analysis contends that a prevailing focus on numerical representation has obscured the necessity for transformative measures addressing physical security, equitable resource allocation, and intra-party discrimination. Its significance lies in a timely contribution to African feminist policy debates, demonstrating how technocratic solutions falter without confronting deeper power structures. The study concludes that for South Sudan to achieve sustainable peace and democratic governance, national and regional stakeholders must rigorously enforce existing protections and fund grassroots women's political education, moving beyond quota rhetoric towards substantive empowerment.