In May 2021, President Salva Kiir reconstituted the National Legislature in accordance with the 2018 peace agreement, expanding both houses. The peace deal was extended in August 2022, and efforts were revived to revitalize the peace process, emphasizing the revision of security laws. However, parties failed to implement major provisions of the agreement and sporadic violence continued.
Ongoing conflicts exacerbate South Sudan’s economic challenges. The United Nations estimates that by the end of 2022, armed conflicts in the country have caused 2.2 million people to be internally displaced. Additionally, 2.26 million individuals are now refugees in neighboring countries, and more than two-thirds of the population, specifically 8.9 million people, are in need of humanitarian assistance.
The Kiir government’s approach to peace negotiations demonstrated the leaders’ distrust in international involvement. The combination of political, economic and military power creates substantial obstacles to investigating corruption and prosecuting influential figures. As a result, prospects for peace remain uncertain.
