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Paper short abstract:

This paper explores the roles and practices of customary authorities in solving disputes and preventing community level armed violence in South Sudan. Yet, their influence has its limits and is challenged by interference of political and military interests and prevalent gendered norms.

Paper long abstract:

In 2018, the government of South Sudan and armed opposition groups signed a peace agreement which led to a significant decrease in such fighting. However, in contrast armed conflicts increased at the same time at the community level in different parts of South Sudan. The livelihoods and social identity of agro-pastoralists in South Sudan centres around their cattle and ability to provide for and to defend large herds of livestock in a context of protracted insecurity.

In South Sudan various customary authorities are central in diverse fields including governance, resolving disputes and preventing escalation into armed violence at the community level. Yet, their influence has its limits. In agro-pastoralist communities in Aweil East county (Northern Bahr el-Ghazal state) and Yirol East county (Lakes state), such actors include chiefs, elders, clan heads, cattle camp leaders and traditional spiritual authorities. Each of these actors plays an essential yet particular role; depending on the specific cause of conflict and the involved parties, distinct actors get involved. However, this setting faces several challenges, such as an extended livelihood crisis, interference by individuals from the state and national level pursuing their own political and military interests, as well as prevalent gendered norms that contradict the prevention of armed conflict.

This paper explores the agency, roles, practices and challenges customary authorities face in solving disputes and preventing armed violence. The paper is based on long-term field research in social anthropology conducted between 2007 and 2021 in different parts of South Sudan.