Conflict and Gender Study – South Sudan Addressing Root Causes Programme January 2018 Conflict and Gender Study – South Sudan Addressing Root Causes Programme Acknowledgements: The author of this report would like to thank Manna Development Agency (MADA) located in Ikotos, Eastern Equatoria for their contribution to this report. Appreciation is also extended to all of the individuals who agreed to participate in the research process sharing their experiences, observations and insights. Finally, thanks to the operational partners who facilitated the field level activities; and to the members of the NGO Consortium for organizing the research. Author: Dr. Catherine Huser Edited by Salome Zuriel, ACORD Submitted to the NGO Consortium of: Agency for Co-operation and Research in Development (ACORD); Dan Church Aid (DCA); and the Centre for Conflict Resolution (CCR) Research funded by: Government of the Netherlands, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Addressing Root Causes (ARC) Fund. The views expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect those of the NGO Consortium or the Government of the Netherlands. Copyright © 2018 ISBN – 9966-753-00-17 All rights reserved Keywords: Gender relations – armed conflict – violence- South Sudan – peace- security – addressing root causes - instability www.acordinternational.org ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACRONYMS ......................................................................................................................................................... v EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................................... vi Objective .......................................................................................................................................................... vi Methodology .................................................................................................................................................... vi Constraints ...................................................................................................................................................... vii Findings .......................................................................................................................................................... vii Conclusions & Recommendations .................................................................................................................... x 1. BACKGROUND .............................................................................................................................................. 12 2. OBJECTIVE .................................................................................................................................................... 12 3. METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................................................... 12 4. CONSTRAINTS .............................................................................................................................................. 14 5. FINDINGS ...................................................................................................................................................... 15 5.1 People’s General Concerns ...................................................................................................................... 15 5.2 Conflict & Security Concerns .................................................................................................................... 16 5.3 Conflict Contributing Factors ..................................................................................................................... 20 5.3.1 Guns ................................................................................................................................................... 20 5.3.2 Socially Constructed Masculine Aggression ...................................................................................... 21 5.3.3 Cattle Greed ....................................................................................................................................... 22 5.3.4 Revenge ............................................................................................................................................. 23 5.3.5 Accolades ........................................................................................................................................... 24 5.3.6 Girls, Marriage, & Dowry .................................................................................................................... 26 5.3.7 Gendered Power Dynamics ............................................................................................................... 28 5.4 Conflict Management Strategies ............................................................................................................... 29 5.4.1 Contrasting Male & Female Conflict Management Strategies: ........................................................... 29 5.4.2 Contrasting Agriculturalist & Cattle-keeper Conflict Management Strategies: ................................... 30 5.4.3 Contrasting Urban & Rural Conflict Management Strategies: ............................................................ 31 5.5 Individuals are Reconfigured by Violence ................................................................................................. 31 5.5.1 Social amplification of risk .................................................................................................................. 32 5.6 Social Fragmentation ................................................................................................................................ 33 5.6.1 Failed Peace Negotiations ................................................................................................................. 35 5.7 Altered Social Norms ................................................................................................................................ 36 5.7.1 Normalisation of Violence ................................................................................................................... 36 5.8 The Future Looks Hopeless ...................................................................................................................... 38 5.8.1 Defining Peace ................................................................................................................................... 39 6. CONCLUSIONS & THE WAY FORWARD ..................................................................................................... 40 6.1 A Programming Framework ...................................................................................................................... 40 iii Pillar 1. CHANGING ATTITUDES & BELIEFS ............................................................................................ 40 Pillar 2. MECHANISMS for ADDRESSING ON-GOING VIOLENCE .......................................................... 44 Pillar 3. CONSTRUCTING A PEACEFUL FUTURE ................................................................................... 46 8. ANNEX: .......................................................................................................................................................... 49 FURTHER SUBSTANTIVE INFORMATION ...................................................................................................... 49 8.1 Conflict Trends in Detail ............................................................................................................................ 49 8.1.1 National Level Conflict ........................................................................................................................ 49 8.1.2 Criminality ........................................................................................................................................... 50 8.1.3 Cattle Raiding ..................................................................................................................................... 50 8.1.4 Political Dimension in Bor ................................................................................................................... 51 8.1.5 Meso-Level Cattle Raiding ................................................................................................................. 51 8.1.6 Livelihood Clashes ............................................................................................................................. 52 8.1.7 Everyday Violence - Domestic Violence ............................................................................................. 52 8.1.8 Hunger Causes Domestic Violence .................................................................................................... 53 8.1.9 Youth Beating Parents ....................................................................................................................... 55 8.1.10 Elder Versus Youth Conflict ............................................................................................................. 56 8.2 The State & Security Sector Actors .......................................................................................................... 57 8.2.1 Human Security & Security Sector Actors .......................................................................................... 57 8.2.2 Government .......................................................................................................................................