Seeking Peace in South Sudan: The Contributions and Challenges of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD)

Abstract

The objective of this article is to critically examine the role(s) that the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has played in the restoration  of peace in South Sudan. Methodologically, the article employed a case study qualitative research design as its main focus is analyzing the contributions  and challenges of IGAD in seeking peace in South Sudan. The study revealed that IGAD has played a prominent and leading role in the South Sudan mediation. Since its involvement in the mediation process, it has played its utmost efforts in the South Sudan peace process to end the armed conflict  and created the basis for sustainable conflict resolution in non-violent ways. The Agreement on the resolution of the conflict signed by the parties in  August 2015, without doubt, is a major contribution to the resolution of the conflict. The agreement outlined a comprehensive plan to end the fighting,  frame a post-conflict transition, and to begin the tasks of reconciliation and reform despite competing interests of the parties and diverging views of  external partners. Furthermore, IGAD was instrumental in the realization of the IGAD High-Level Revitalization Forum on 21 December 2017. More  recently, IGAD has played a prominent role in the signing of the Khartoum Declaration Agreement on outstanding issues on governance and security  arrangements among warring parties held on 5 August 2018 in Sudan. Another achievement of IGAD was its ability to manage regional tensions, among  its members, which prevented an agreement on power-sharing and security arrangements in the country. Finally, the article concludes that IGAD has  achieved success in assisting South Sudan to integrate into the regional peacebuilding architecture.