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

This case study examines women's participation in peacebuilding and post-conflict governance in South Sudan, focusing on the period following the 2018 Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS). Despite international mandates such as United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) and a formal 35 per cent gender quota enshrined in the R-ARCSS, the implementation of inclusive governance remains largely performative. Drawing on 30 semi-structured interviews conducted with women peacebuilders, civil society leaders, and government officials in Juba, Bor, and Wau between January and June 2021, alongside document analysis of the R-ARCSS text, national gender policies, and UNMISS reports, the study employs a qualitative case study design and thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke's (2006) framework. The findings reveal three primary patterns: first, women are appointed to positions lacking substantive decision-making authority over security, finance, or land allocation, resulting in 'descriptive without substantive representation' (personal communication, 12 March 2021); second, ethnic patronage networks systematically exclude women from minority groups, particularly those from Fertit and Murle communities, from peace workshops and governance training; and third, a significant gap persists between formal peacebuilding mechanisms and grassroots women's initiatives, with rural peace committees operating with minimal resources. These findings demonstrate that structural, cultural, and institutional factors interact to limit women's agency, perpetuating fragile ceasefires and recurrent cycles of violence. The study concludes that without addressing patriarchal norms and ethnic hierarchies, post-conflict governance in South Sudan risks reproducing rather than transforming gender inequalities, undermining the durability of peace. References Asmorowati, S., & Ceesay, S. (2025). Women's participation in peacebuilding and post-conflict governance in South Sudan. PARJ African Journal of Peace and Security Studies. Bakken, I. V., & Rustad, S. A. (2018). Conflict trends in Africa, 1989–2017. Conflict Trends, 6, 1–12. Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa Deng, L., & V., M. (2025). Gender and peacebuilding in South Sudan: Barriers and opportunities. Journal of Peace Research, 62(1), 45–60. International Crisis Group. (2020). South Sudan: Keeping the peace process on track (Africa Report No. 295). https://www.crisisgroup.org/africa/horn-africa/south-sudan/295-south-sudan-keeping-peace-process-track O'Reilly, M., Ó Súilleabháin,