Human Security: The 2020 Peace Agreement and the Path to Sustainable Peace in South Sudan

ABSTRACT:The South Sudan Peace Agreement signed in October 2020 between rival parties in the South Sudan conflict has elicited mixed reactions. Proponents of the deal are optimistic that finally, South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, will experience peace while skeptics look at previous failed peace agreements and contend that more needs to be done. This article agrees with the latter school by arguing that the 2020 agreement has adopted a state-centric approach, which proved to be ineffective in the past peace agreements. The article utilizes a human security lens to examine the gaps in the October 2020 agreement. It concludes that proper application of the seven principles of human security could be the key to sustainable peace in South Sudan.