Local Peace Agreements in South Sudan: Exploring Processes at the Margins

Jan Pospisil; Robert Wilson; Kido Joseph; Ibrahim Magara

Local Peace Agreements in South Sudan: Exploring Processes at the Margins

Jan Pospisil, Robert Wilson, Kido Joseph, Ibrahim Magara

Research Centre for Peace and Security

University of Edinburgh

Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report › peer-review

3 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This report synthesises findings from five sites – Yei, Wau, Yambio, Aweil and Malakal – to assess the nature, function and influence of local peace agreements in South Sudan. These settings reflect a range of conflict drivers, governance configurations and peacebuilding efforts. Across these diverse contexts, seven cross-cutting insights emerge:

Local peace agreements are contextually specific but structurally patterned
Intermediary actors are essential to success
Local-to-national linkages exist, but remain weakly supported
Political will and follow-up determine agreement durability
Civil-military tensions are a recurring conflict driver
Spatial dynamics matter – borderlands and return zones are hotspots
Process is as important as outcome.

Original language	English
Place of Publication	Edinburgh
Publisher	University of Edinburgh
Number of pages	56
Publication status	Published - 23 Oct 2025

Funding

Funders	Funder number
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Keywords

South Sudan
local peacemaking
local peace agreements
peace agreements
customary authorities

Themes

Governance, Leadership and Trust
Peace and Conflict

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

Local-Peace-Agreements-in-South-Sudan-Exploring-Processes-at-the-Margins-DIGITALFinal published version, 3.21 MB

PeaceRep: Peace and Conflict Resolution Evidence Platform
Bell, C. (Principal Investigator), Kaldor, M. (Co-Investigator), Peter, M. (Co-Investigator), Pospisil, J. (Co-Investigator) & Magara, I. (Researcher)
1/10/21 → 30/03/27
Project: Research

Cite this

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title = "Local Peace Agreements in South Sudan: Exploring Processes at the Margins",

abstract = "This report synthesises findings from five sites – Yei, Wau, Yambio, Aweil and Malakal – to assess the nature, function and influence of local peace agreements in South Sudan. These settings reflect a range of conflict drivers, governance configurations and peacebuilding efforts. Across these diverse contexts, seven cross-cutting insights emerge: Local peace agreements are contextually specific but structurally patterned Intermediary actors are essential to success Local-to-national linkages exist, but remain weakly supported Political will and follow-up determine agreement durability Civil-military tensions are a recurring conflict driver Spatial dynamics matter – borderlands and return zones are hotspots Process is as important as outcome.",

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N2 - This report synthesises findings from five sites – Yei, Wau, Yambio, Aweil and Malakal – to assess the nature, function and influence of local peace agreements in South Sudan. These settings reflect a range of conflict drivers, governance configurations and peacebuilding efforts. Across these diverse contexts, seven cross-cutting insights emerge: Local peace agreements are contextually specific but structurally patterned Intermediary actors are essential to success Local-to-national linkages exist, but remain weakly supported Political will and follow-up determine agreement durability Civil-military tensions are a recurring conflict driver Spatial dynamics matter – borderlands and return zones are hotspots Process is as important as outcome.

AB - This report synthesises findings from five sites – Yei, Wau, Yambio, Aweil and Malakal – to assess the nature, function and influence of local peace agreements in South Sudan. These settings reflect a range of conflict drivers, governance configurations and peacebuilding efforts. Across these diverse contexts, seven cross-cutting insights emerge: Local peace agreements are contextually specific but structurally patterned Intermediary actors are essential to success Local-to-national linkages exist, but remain weakly supported Political will and follow-up determine agreement durability Civil-military tensions are a recurring conflict driver Spatial dynamics matter – borderlands and return zones are hotspots Process is as important as outcome.

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KW - local peace agreements

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KW - customary authorities

M3 - Commissioned report

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PB - University of Edinburgh

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ER -

Local Peace Agreements in South Sudan: Exploring Processes at the Margins

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

Themes

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Projects

PeaceRep: Peace and Conflict Resolution Evidence Platform

Cite this