The Illusion of Finality: A Critical Analysis of Elite Bargaining and the Implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan

This paper critically examines the implementation of the 2018 Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), arguing that the process has been characterised by elite bargaining that prioritises power-sharing over transformative peace. Through a qualitative case study, it analyses the stalled progress in security sector reform, transitional justice, and constitution-making. The findings reveal that the agreement's institutional design, while creating a fragile ceasefire, has entrenched a political economy of conflict and failed to address the root causes of violence. The discussion contends that without meaningful inclusion and accountability, the R-ARCSS risks perpetuating a cycle of unstable elite pacts rather than fostering a sustainable peace.