36 OCTOBER 2024 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL The United States, among other countries, has not only provided significant amounts of aid to the South Sudanese but also played an important role in the country’s journey since independence. American diplomatic efforts were crucial in brokering the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005, which eventually led to South Sudan’s independence in 2011. And the U.S. remains the largest donor of humanitarian aid to the country, supporting millions of South Sudanese through food assistance, health and education services, and other initiatives. Humanitarian aid is a significant contributor to South Sudan’s GDP—not only providing essential services, but generating substantial employment (estimated at 10 percent of overall employment). In a country characterized by an otherwise dramatic lack of employment and extremely low wages— where a police officer earns as little as $3 per month, and wages haven’t been paid in more than six months—the aid industry and its periphery are a crucial lifeline for many. Despite the billions of dollars invested, however, South Sudan’s progress has been glacial, and the country’s stability remains precarious. Though a lifeline for many, humanitarian aid also poses challenges. Originally meant to alleviate immediate suffering during crises, continuous aid during South Sudan’s protracted crisis has affected local markets and mindsets. Markets are heavily influenced and sometimes damaged by prolonged aid. Over time people have learned to respond strategically to food security assessments and to manipulate standard methodologies to maximize their chances of receiving aid, whether needed or not, which, in turn, affects the local economy. Further, the effect of large, sustained quantities of aid on conflict dynamics in a country or region is another question that is coming under investigation. There are still significant gaps in understanding aid’s impact on conflict dynamics, with limited empirical evidence and data from South Sudan for informed decision-making. Local peace initiatives and ongoing dialogues involving national and state leaders show a commitment to working toward reconciliation and stability in the country. A village in Torit county in the state of Eastern Equatoria, southeast of Juba, June 2023. JULIUS KAUT
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