Post-conflict returnee reintegration: a case study of South Sudan and the livelihood approach

Abstract

Post-conflict societies emerging from protracted violence often struggle in the critical transition from short-term oriented emergency relief assistancefunctioning as an immediate stabilizing mechanism during decades of protracted conflictto longer-term solutions intended to rebuild the nation. This post-conflict evolution is complicated by the potentially destabilizing reintroduction of returning refugees and internally displaced persons. Using South Sudan as the case study, this thesis analyzes the short and long-term tradeoffs and implications of immediate versus durable repatriation strategies for stabilization and reconstruction of post-conflict societies. I argue that reintegration strategies must provide a long-term development approach; a long-term approach directly contributes to the future prospects and viable stability of a post-conflict environment. This thesis concludes that while there have been concerted efforts towards contributing to the reintegration of returnees in South Sudan, the critical element lies in the ability of such post-conflict nations to provide long-term sustainable opportunitieslivelihoodsin order to obtain and sustain peace and stability.