South Sudan’s protracted conflict has never been merely a contest for political power; it is a crisis rooted in weak institutions, exclusionary governance, militarised politics, historical grievances, and the collapse of social trust.
Against this complex background, the 2018 Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South S udan (R-ARCSS) stands out, not as a perfect document, but as the only comprehensive and viable framework, capable of delivering positive peace rather than a fragile absence of war.
Peace is often misunderstood as the silencing of guns. That is negative peace. Positive peace, by contrast, is the presence of justice, accountable governance, equitable development, and social cohesion. As articulated by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), positive peace rests on interdependent pillars such as a well-functioning government, low corruption, acceptance of rights, inclusive economic systems, and strong institutions. R-ARCSS is the only political framework in South Sudan that structurally aligns with these pillars, addressing both the symptoms and the root causes of conflict.
At its core, R-ARCSS institutionalizes dialogue over domination. By establishing the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU), with a unified presidency comprising the President, First Vice-President, and four vice-presidents, the Agreement replaces zero-sum politics with power-sharing, collective responsibility, and negotiated compromise. This arrangement is not an end in itself, but a conflict-management mechanism designed to stabilise the political arena long enough for reforms to take root. In a deeply divided society, inclusion is not a luxury; it is a prerequisite for survival.
No peace can endure without transforming the instruments of violence. R-ARCSS directly confronts South Sudan’s most destabilizing factor: fragmented, ethnicized armed forces. Through: a Permanent Ceasefire; the creation of the Necessary Unified Forces (NUFs) via cantonment, training, and redeployment; and Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR); the Agreement aims to build a professional, national, and representative security sector, loyal to the constitution, rather than to tribes or individuals. This reform is central to guarantees of non-repetition and the restoration of civilian trust in the state.
R-ARCSS recognizes a fundamental truth: there can be no sustainable peace without justice. Its transitional justice architecture is among the most comprehensive ever negotiated in the region, combining both retrospective and prospective justice. Key mechanisms include: the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing (CTRH), a Hybrid Court for South Sudan, a Compensation and Reparation Authority, and institutional reforms to prevent recurrence.
These mechanisms reflect the four classic pillars of transitional justice: truth-seeking, criminal accountability, reparations, and guarantees of non-repetition. Used together, they acknowledge victims, end impunity, rebuild social trust, and morally anchor the peace process. In fragile transitions, such mechanisms are not obstacles to peace, they are what hold peace together.
R-ARCSS embeds the foundations of an accountable and open government, closely aligned with the IEP’s “Well-Functioning Government” pillar. It mandates: Constitutional review and permanent constitution-making; transparency in oil revenue management; audits of public resources, and institutional checks through oversight bodies such as RJMEC. By promoting transparency, rule of law, and public service delivery, the Agreement directly targets corruption, elite capture, and governance opacity, key drivers of conflict in South Sudan.
Crucially, R-ARCSS opens the path toward territorial federalism, grounded in geographic rather than ethnic boundaries. This model promotes equality, decentralisation, and national integration while reducing the political weaponization of identity. Under Article 1.15, it also addresses contested internal boundaries, one of the most sensitive sources of violence, through lawful, constitutional means.
Peace cannot survive without livelihoods. The Agreement links political reform to economic governance, including oil-sector audits, land policy reform, and equitable resource management. It also guarantees safe return for refugees and the internally displaced persons, recognising dignity, restitution, and reintegration as core peacebuilding obligations.
By mandating elections 60 days before the end of the 36-month transitional period, R-ARCSS rejects premature elections in favour of prepared democracy. Elections are treated as the outcome of reform, not a substitute for it, an essential distinction in post-conflict states.
No alternative framework offers the same breadth, legality, and international legitimacy as R-ARCSS. Military victory, unilateral reforms, or ad hoc political arrangements have repeatedly failed. The choice facing South Sudan is not between R-ARCSS and a better deal, it is between imperfect reform and perpetual collapse.
The R-ARCSS (2018) is not negotiable because it is not merely a peace deal; it is a state-building blueprint. Implemented faithfully, in letter and spirit, it addresses the structural causes of South Sudan’s crisis and aligns the country with the principles of positive peace: justice, accountability, inclusion, and resilience. South Sudan will not escape conflict by abandoning the Agreement, but by fighting for its full implementation through law, institutions, and civic pressure. Peace is not declared. It is built, and R-ARCSS remains the only foundation solid enough to build upon.
The writer, Juol Nhomngek Daniel, is a lawyer, politician, lecturer and a member of the SPLM-IO. His area of interest is constitutional, administrative, and human rights law. He can be reached via email: nhomngekjuol@gmail.com
The views expressed in ‘opinion’ articles published by Radio Tamazuj are solely those of the writer. The veracity of any claims made is the responsibility of the author, not Radio Tamazuj.