From Rebel Governance to State Government: The Transformation of SPLM in South Sudan

Description

This paper explores the transformation pathways from ‘rebel governance’ into state government in South Sudan, focusing on the transition of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) from a separatist rebel group to a recognised state authority following the 2011 referendum. Drawing on extensive field research and practical experience with South Sudanese authorities post-independence, the paper underscores the layers of how post-war government functions, and the factors impacting the transformation of the SPLM into a ruling political party through the evolvement of a state bureaucracy. We find that there is a persistence of insurgency-related ethnopolitical dynamics The government of South Sudan operates through three key modalities of governance that remain rooted in wartime governance practices: these include spoiler accommodation as a conflict management strategy, the prevalence of entitlement over merit in leadership selection, and the practice of decreeing strategic communications rather than encouraging a space for civic dialogue and political deliberation. These practices highlight that the transition and reform of the SPLM/A remains mired in the competing demands of a compromised modality of government focusing on conflict mitigation and the need for encouraging open, democratic political competition through the development of independent and non-militarised state institutions.

Period	3 Mar 2025
Event title	ISA Annual Convention 2025
Event type	Conference
Location	Chicago, United States, IllinoisShow on map
Degree of Recognition	International