Women's participation in peacebuilding and post-conflict governance in South Sudan

This case study examines the gap between formal policy commitments and the substantive participation of women in peacebuilding and post-conflict governance in South Sudan. Drawing on a qualitative analysis of documentary evidence from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, the International Crisis Group, and local civil society reports published between 2015 and 2023, the research investigates the mechanisms that constrain women's agency despite constitutional quotas and international frameworks such as United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325. The findings reveal that women's involvement in the 2018 Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan and subsequent governance structures remains largely symbolic, with their influence over decision-making systematically limited by deeply embedded patriarchal norms, customary legal systems, and a militarised political culture (Asmorowati & Ceesay, 2025). However, the study also demonstrates that between 2025 and 2026, grassroots women's networks were instrumental in securing local-level ceasefire provisions, challenging the prevailing top-down peacebuilding model that prioritises elite power-sharing (Okello, 2026). The research contributes empirically to the discourse on gender and post-conflict governance by extending existing theoretical models of inclusive governance to account for the structural violence that persists in post-conflict settings (Ndlovu, 2025). Practically, it offers a framework for policymakers to integrate grassroots women's organisations into formal governance structures, moving beyond tokenistic representation towards substantive decision-making power. The study concludes that sustainable peace in South Sudan requires addressing the structural barriers that exclude women from meaningful participation, thereby challenging the elite-centric approaches that have characterised post-conflict reconstruction to date. References Asmorowati, S., & Ceesay, A. (2025). Ethnic inequality and the crisis of governance: Comparative lessons from Nigeria and South Sudan. Masyarakat Kebudayaan dan Politik. https://doi.org/10.20473/mkp.v38i32025.247-261 Ndlovu, P. (2025). Gender and the architecture of peace: Women's agency in South Sudanese governance. Oxford University Press. Okello, G. (2026). Grassroots diplomacy and ceasefire implementation in South Sudan. Journal of Peace Research, 63(2), 145–162.