Paper short abstract:

South Sudan became an independent state on 9 July 2011. The moment of opportunity that independence represents is marred by a climate of continued insecurity. This paper analyses the challenges and opportunities facing youth in South Sudan in their efforts to overcome the current climate of uncertainty resulting from a legacy of war and displacement.

Paper long abstract:

On 9 July 2011, the Republic of South Sudan became the world's 196th independent nation. The country has made significant progress since the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement that marked the official end of a protracted war that resulted in the displacement of over 4 million people. The moment of opportunity that independence represents is, however, marred by a climate of continued insecurity and tribal clashes often related to uncertainty over landholdings. Additional challenges are posed by the massive return of refugees and internally displaced persons, whose arrival in already deprived areas puts further strain on the limited local resources. Inter-generational conflict is not uncommon, as the exilic experiences - including access to formal education and income generating activities - of many younger returnees have created expectations of a "modern" way of life perceived as largely incompatible with traditional agro-pastoralist livelihoods and social relations. Based on fieldwork conducted in South Sudan in 2009 and 2011, the proposed paper presents an analysis of the challenges and opportunities facing young people in South Sudan in their efforts to overcome the current climate of uncertainty resulting from a legacy of war and displacement, and contribute to the sustainability of their newly independent nation.