CIVILIAN DEMOBILIZATION AND POLITICAL PARTICIPATION IN SOUTH SUDAN: ASSESSING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF POST-CONFLICT REINTEGRATION POLICIES

Authors:Celestine Ogechukwu Okafor & AsiegbuVictor Iheanyichukwu

Volume: 7 | Issue: 1 | Year: 2026

Abstract

Abstract This study examines the impact of civilian demobilization on political participation in post-conflict South Sudan, focusing on the effectiveness of reintegration policies implemented after the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement. Despite, several disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) initiatives designed to advance peacebuilding in communities and promoting political inclusion, questions persist about their success in transforming former combatants into active participants in democratic governance. This study adopted the Social Reintegration Theory and Participatory Governance Theory, while relying on qualitative research design involving in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with reintegrated civilians, community leaders, DDR officials, and civil society actors across Jonglei, Central Equatoria, and Upper Nile States. The results reveal that while reintegration policies have facilitated limited social and economic reintegration, their political impact remains uneven. It argues that several former combatants have not fully engaged in political processes, with less than 20% reportedly participating in the 2018 and 2021 electoral participations, mainly in Juba and Bor. It posits that the increasing incidence of insecurity, weak institutional capacity, political exclusion, and distrust in government structures continue to undermine participation. This study recommends that reintegration in South Sudan remains significantly incomplete without genuine political inclusion mechanisms. Also, it is necessary to redesign DDR frameworks that can incorporate civic education, participatory governance platforms, and sustainable livelihood programmes that will promote the long-term political empowerment of ex combatants and other war-affected civilians.