Who are the civilians in the wars of South Sudan?

The study traces a longitudinal history of violence in South Sudan, arguing that since the colonial period, local populations have been viewed as resources to be managed, exploited, and controlled rather than non-combatants. This logic of violent governance—characterized by forced displacement, collective punishment, and the blurring of lines between military and civilian actors—has persisted through multiple civil wars and continues to influence current conflict dynamics and the effectiveness of international protection efforts.

• Since the first colonial incursions, local populations in South Sudan have been treated as strategic assets to be managed and exploited, making them key resources for capture and control rather than just targets of violence.
• The distinction between 'military' and 'civilian' is conceptually and empirically unstable in the South Sudanese context, as colonial regimes, independent governments, and rebel groups have developed their own definitions of legitimate targets and non-combatants.
• Colonial rule under the Anglo-Egyptian Condominium (1899–1956) institutionalized a pattern of extractive and violent control, utilizing 'pacification' campaigns that included burning villages, seizing cattle, and the forced conscription of prisoners.
• Forced population movement and encampment have been consistent tactics used by both state and rebel actors to weaken opponents, secure cheap labour, and control resources, a practice that predates and mirrors modern Protection of Civilians (PoC) camps.
• During the first civil war (1963–1972) and the second civil war (1983–2005), both the Sudanese government and rebel groups like the Anya-Nya and SPLM/A used collective punishment, the burning of villages, and the creation of 'Peace Villages' to isolate populations from their enemies.
• The governance of South Sudan has become fundamentally militarized, with political and military power fused; for example, the SPLM/A required military ranks for those in elite civil service positions, and state governors are automatically promoted to brigadier general.
• International Protection of Civilians (PoC) camps risk being incorporated into existing local systems of violent governance, as they are often perceived locally as another form of militarized government controlling territory and populations.

APA

Kindersley, N., & Rolandsen, Ø. H. (n.d.). Who are the civilians in the wars of South Sudan? Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/db5ba239-9b02-45ec-83cd-8511c85bd83d/Who are the civilians in the wars of South Sudan.pdf?inline=true

Chicago

Kindersley, Nicki, and Øystein H. Rolandsen. Who are the civilians in the wars of South Sudan? Peace Research Institute Oslo, n.d. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/db5ba239-9b02-45ec-83cd-8511c85bd83d/Who are the civilians in the wars of South Sudan.pdf?inline=true.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Kindersley |first1=Nicki |last2=Rolandsen |first2=Øystein H. |title=Who are the civilians in the wars of South Sudan? |publisher=Peace Research Institute Oslo |url=https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/db5ba239-9b02-45ec-83cd-8511c85bd83d/Who are the civilians in the wars of South Sudan.pdf?inline=true |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{kindersleyndwho, author = {Kindersley, Nicki and Rolandsen, Øystein H.}, title = {{Who are the civilians in the wars of South Sudan?}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, url = {https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/db5ba239-9b02-45ec-83cd-8511c85bd83d/Who are the civilians in the wars of South Sudan.pdf?inline=true}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }