Publications: Special Reports

Cultural contextualization of constitutionalism is a pervasive post-colonial challenge in Africa, where operating constitutions remain Eurocentric. Not only are these constitutions European in origin, but the normative ideals they embody were not applied even by the colonial governments who bequeathed them to the independent African states.

While South Sudan is endowed with 3.5 billion barrels of proven oil reserves, the exploitation of this natural wealth is turning into a catastrophe for some local communities, particularly in Melut County. Through focus group discussions, individual interviews, and field observations, we found the following:

South Sudan faces a serious energy crisis due to a number of factors, including devastating conflicts (e.g. 1955-172, 1983-2005 & 2013–present) and reliance on the fossil fuel source. The country has the lowest energy consumption rate in Africa and the highest cost of producing energy (World Bank, 2016).

Climate change poses global risks (World Economic Forum, 2016, IPCC, 2014). These risks adversely affect women in developing countries because of their little capacity to adapt (Brody et al, 2008). Previous studies show that women are more vulnerable to climate change than men for a variety of reasons, including illiteracy,...

This report scrutinizes the transfer of the 2% and 3% of net petroleum revenues to the petroleum producing states and communities. Using historical budget outturns, key informant interviews, and policy documents, we find that:

South Sudan has experienced decades of protracted conflicts, some of which might have been caused in part or exacerbated by climate change and variability. Climate change causes scarcity of resources and forces communities to raid their neighbors or migrate to a new area to look for opportunities, which brings new...

The trends reported in the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) show a growing food security crisis in South Sudan, with a high proportion of people sliding into crisis and emergency food insecurity level. The underlying fears concern an emerging acute lack of food in almost all parts of the...

South Sudan has encountered waves of periodic fuel crisis since 2011. The government has attempted quick-fix measures, but the crisis has continued unabated. Despite a number of speculations surrounding this matter, however, the actual causes and impacts are not necessarily well understood.

This report examines policy and institutional response to climate change and environmental disaster risks, with the view to providing recommendations to the government and its partners in South Sudan on where to focus their environmental policy interventions.

This analysis argues that although the crisis was triggered by power struggle within the SPLM, historical issues that remained unresolved after the CPA significantly compounded it. As well, other factors such as illiteracy, maladministration and undemocratic nature in the SPLM, lack of employment, and weak institutions all contributed to this...

This study seeks to examine how structural factors, customary laws and traditional practices, and economic hardships shape women’s status and hinder their effective participation in leadership positions in South Sudan. By doing so, the study identifies some of the socio-cultural, economic, legal, educational and political conditions, which lead to gender...

South Sudan has been engaged in a daunting endeavor to build institutions of security, justice and national defense. In addition to decades of cataclysmic conflict with what is now the Republic of Sudan, the new state of South Sudan has had to face tensions within itself.

Popular sentiment in South Sudan appears to favor a reconciliation process, but questions remain regarding what issues such a process would tackle, how it might be conducted, and who should carry it out. This special report addresses these concerns using information and opinions gathered from interviews with community leaders, youth,...

Ethnic violence continues to plague rural communities across South Sudan, in many cases preventing citizens from enjoying the benefits of peace and the promises of independence.