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April 10, 2026Open Access

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

Key Points

This analysis aims to examine the implementation of the 2018 Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan and its flaws.
Qualitative case study approach
Analysis of elite bargaining processes
Examination of security sector reform
Discussion of transitional justice and constitution-making
The R-ARCSS has created a fragile ceasefire without sustainable peace.
Elite bargaining prioritizes power-sharing over transformative solutions.
Lack of meaningful inclusion and accountability risks a cycle of unstable political agreements.

Abstract

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.

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

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Abstract

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