Conflict Sensitivity Analysis: United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Protection of Civilian (PoC) Sites Transition: Bentiu, Unity State, and Malakal, Upper Nile State Conflict Sensitivity Resource Facility March 2021 This Conflict Sensitivity Analysis (CSA) was requested by the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group in October 2020 and examines the conflict sensitivity implications of the transition of UN Protection of Civilian sites in Bentiu, Unity State, and Malakal, Upper Nile State, from sites under the protection of United Nations Mission in South Sudan to camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) under the jurisdiction of the Government of the Republic of South Sudan. The Conflict Sensitivity Resource Facility is intended to support conflict-sensitive aid programming in South Sudan. The Facility is funded by the UK, Swiss, Dutch and Canadian donor missions in South Sudan and is implemented by a consortium of NGOs including Saferworld and swisspeace. Conflict Sensitivity Analysis: Malakal and Bentiu PoC sites Table of Contents Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................................................... i 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................ 1 Overview .......................................................................................................................................................... 1 Methodology ................................................................................................................................................... 1 2 Context summary .................................................................................................................................................... 2 Conflict in South Sudan (2013-2020) .............................................................................................................. 2 United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) mandate ......................................................................... 2 Protection of Civilian sites ............................................................................................................................... 3 2.3.1 Bentiu, Rubkona County, Unity State ................................................................................................. 5 2.3.2 Malakal, Malakal County, Upper Nile State ...................................................................................... 6 3 Key conflict sensitivity issues .................................................................................................................................. 7 Concerns about State Governance ................................................................................................................. 7 3.1.1 Bentiu ................................................................................................................................................. 7 3.1.2 Malakal ............................................................................................................................................... 8 Tensions between communities in and outside of POC sites ......................................................................... 8 3.2.1 Bentiu ................................................................................................................................................. 8 3.2.2 Malakal ............................................................................................................................................... 9 Housing, Land and Property (HLP) ................................................................................................................ 10 3.3.1 Bentiu ............................................................................................................................................... 11 3.3.2 Malakal ............................................................................................................................................. 12 Multiple authorities, administrative structures and pathways to justice .................................................... 13 3.4.1 Bentiu ............................................................................................................................................... 14 3.4.2 Malakal ............................................................................................................................................. 15 PoC residents’ human safety and security concerns .................................................................................... 15 3.5.1 Bentiu ............................................................................................................................................... 15 3.5.2 Malakal ............................................................................................................................................. 16 Competition over resources .......................................................................................................................... 17 3.6.1 Bentiu ............................................................................................................................................... 17 3.6.2 Malakal ............................................................................................................................................. 17 4 Potential impact of the transition on conflict dynamics ...................................................................................... 18 Violence against remaining and outgoing PoC residents ............................................................................. 18 4.1.1 Bentiu ............................................................................................................................................... 18 4.1.2 Malakal ............................................................................................................................................. 19 Increased Housing, Land and Property (HLP) disputes in areas of concern ................................................. 19 4.2.1 Bentiu ............................................................................................................................................... 19 4.2.2 Malakal ............................................................................................................................................. 20 Increased conflict over resources .................................................................................................................. 20 4.3.1 Bentiu ............................................................................................................................................... 20 4.3.2 Malakal ............................................................................................................................................. 21 Concerns over reduction in aid provision ...................................................................................................... 21 Inadequate and inequitable communications .............................................................................................. 21 5 Operational implications ....................................................................................................................................... 21 Increased bureaucratic and access impediments ......................................................................................... 21 5.1.1. Bentiu ............................................................................................................................................... 22 5.1.2. Malakal ............................................................................................................................................. 22 6 Recommendations ................................................................................................................................................ 22 Immediate priorities ...................................................................................................................................... 22 Longer term considerations .......................................................................................................................... 24 Bibliography .............................................................................................................................................................. 28 Annex I ...................................................................................................................................................................... 32 Conflict Sensitivity Analysis: Malakal and Bentiu PoC sites Acronyms CCCM Camp Coordination and Camp Management CSA Conflict Sensitivity Analysis DRC Danish Refugee Council FGD Focus Group Discussion GRSS Government of the Republic of South Sudan GoS Government of Sudan HLP Housing, Land and Property IOM International Organization for Migration ICCG Inter-cluster Coordination Group IDP Internally Displaced Person KI Key Informant KII Key Informant Interview OCHA Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs NGO Non-governmental Organization PoC Protection of Civilians R-ARCSS Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan SPLA-IG Sudan People’s Liberation Army – in Government SPLA-IO Sudan People’s Liberation Army – in Opposition SPLM-IG