Localising Peacebuilding in South Sudan? A Case of Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Martin Ochaya Lino AGWELLA Submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Faculty of Social Sciences, Division of Peace Studies University of Bradford 2018 Abstract Martin O Lino AGWELLA Title: Localising Peacebuilding in South Sudan? A Case of Transitional Justice and Reconciliation. Key words: Localising, peacebuilding, transitional justice, reconciliation, South Sudan Despite the signing of the 2005 Sudan Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended the two decades of South-North Sudan war; and the 2015 Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan, to end the current civil war, armed conflicts persist in South Sudan. Two key inadequacies of the liberal peacebuilding model, applied to address modern conflicts in Africa and across the globe are its insistence on international justice instruments such as the International Criminal Court, and the failure to recognize the role of local approaches and to incorporate them into peacebuilding intervention policies. This has resulted in failures to address the grievances and bitterness of war affected people and to reconcile divided communities. This study examines the potential and limits of applying local approaches to post-conflict peacebuilding in South Sudan. Based on empirical data obtained through qualitative case study conducted in South Sudan over five months in 2016, the findings reveal that despite the wide use of local institutions and justice mechanisms, many challenges exist, that pose serious difficulties in solely applying these strategies to transitional justice. However, for the liberal peacebuilding model to address the root causes of internal conflicts and build sustainable peace, local strategies could provide a significant complementary contribution, since dealing with the past entails more than retribution and truth seeking. The study has wider i 12018735 implications in practical and theoretical considerations for ongoing armed conflicts in Africa and other parts of the world. ii 12018735 Declaration This research work is my original and has not been submitted to any PhD programme in any University. Martin O Lino Agwella Author_______________________________ Date_____________________ This research project has been submitted for examination with my approval. Dr. David Harris Supervisor_________________________ Date_______________________ iii 12018735 Dedication This thesis is dedicated to my late brother and sisters JAMES LINO AGWELLA, LILY LINO AGWELLA, and REBECCA LINO AGWELLA and my parents who inspired my work in many ways. iv 12018735 Acknowledgements This thesis is out because of guidance and support given to me by several persons and organizations. Notably, I thank my supervisor Dr. David Harris who provided the academic and professional support I needed, and Prof. David J. Francis who assisted me with the initial formulations of the study. I am also grateful to the Department and staff of Peace Studies at the University of Bradford, especially Prof. Caroline Hughes, Prof. Donna Pankhurst, Michele Mosley, and Sandra Hall, who were particularly helpful through their friendship and willingness to assist and offer me the academic atmosphere and facilitation necessary for this work. Special thanks go to Archbishop Paolino Lukudu Loro for the support to undertake the study. I thank the Open Society Foundation, for financing my field work; and Fr. Paul Okeny and who facilitated my movements during field work in Greater Bahr el Ghazal and Abyei. The 2016 Fellowship at the Institute of Justice and Reconciliation (IJR) in Cape Town, South Africa, and the Easter 2017, Sudan Archive Visiting Library Fellowship at the University of Durham provided me with additional research time. The cooperation of my respondents and those who assisted me in data collection and transcription deserves sincere appreciation. Mike O’Brien, Chris Grumpy and Dr. Nicki Kindersley have been kind to proof read the work at various stages. I also thank members of my family, the Agwella, my brothers; Primo, John, Silvestro, Dr. Emmanuel, Augustine and Charles; and sisters, their list being long to mention by names, for their encouragement and various kinds of support. Special thanks also go to Fr. Moses Pitya and Fr. Lorenzo Frosio for their friendship and support throughout the journey, and to Janet Vaughan for formatting the final manuscript. v 12018735 Abbreviations and Acronyms AAA Addis Ababa Peace Agreement ANC African National Congress ARCSS Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan AU African Union AUCISS African Union Commission of Inquiry in South Sudan AUHIP African Union High Level Implementation Panel CAVR Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation in Timore Leste CPA Comprehensive Peace Agreement CTRH Commission for Truth Reconciliation and Healing DC District Commissioner DDR Disarmament, Demobilization and Rehabilitation DoP Declaration of Principles DRC Democratic Republic of the Congo DUL Durham University Library DUP Democratic Unionist Party DVD Digital Video Disc GOS Government of Sudan GRSS Government of the Republic of South Sudan HCSS Hybrid Court of South Sudan vi 12018735 HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus HLRF High Level Revitalization Forum ICC International Criminal Court ICRC International Committee of the Red Cross ICTJ International Centre for Transitional Justice ICTR International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda ICTY International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia IDP Internally Displaced Person IFI International Financial Institutions IGAD Intergovernmental Authority on Development IJR Institute of Justice and Reconciliation IOM International Organization for Migration JMEC Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission JPA Jonglei Peace Agreement KI Key Informant LRA Lord’s Resistance Army NA Native Administration NCP National Congress Party NDA National Democratic Alliance NGO Non-Governmental Organization NIF National Islamic Front vii 12018735 NSCC New Sudan Council of Churches OAU Organization of African Unity OCHA Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs OLS Operation Lifeline Sudan PoCs Protection of Civilian Site PPP People to people Peace Process QIP Quick Impact Project RCA Reparation and Compensation Authority RSS Republic of South Sudan SAD Sudan Archive Durham SAF Sudan Arm Forces SCBC Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference SCC Sudan Council of Churches SPLM/A Sudan People Liberation Movement/Army SPLM/A-IO Sudan People Liberation Movement/Army-In Opposition SSDF South Sudan Democratic Front SSLA South Sudan Law Society SSLM Southern Sudan Liberation of Movement SSR Security Sector Reform SSWA South Sudan Women Association viii 12018735 SWAN Sudan Women Association in Nairobi SWVP Sudanese Women Voice for Peace TC Truth Commission TRC Truth and Reconciliation Commission UDHR Universal Declaration of Human Rights UK United Kingdom UN United Nations UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNMIS United Nations Mission in Sudan UNMISS Nations Mission in South Sudan UP Umma Party US United States USA United State of America YCS Young Christian Student ix 12018735 Table of content Abstract ....................................................................................................................................i Declaration ............................................................................................................................. iii Dedication .............................................................................................................................. iv Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................. v Abbreviations and Acronyms ................................................................................................. vi Table of content ...................................................................................................................... x Chapter One ........................................................................................................................... 1 Research Introduction, Methodology & Design .................................................................... 1 1.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Genesis of the study ..................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem ........................................................................................... 3 1.3 Theoretical and Conceptual Framework ...................................................................... 4 1.4 Significance of the study .............................................................................................. 7 1.5 Research Questions ...................................................................................................... 9 1.6 Research Design and Methodology ........................................................................... 10 1.6.1 Epistemological Approach ................................................................................... 11 1.6.2 Sampling strategy and rationale ......................................................................... 12 1.6.3 Selection of participants ..................................................................................... 12 1.6.4 Research Location: South Sudan ........................................................................