The historical evolution and institutional character of civil-military relations in South Sudan and their implications for national security architecture

Abstract

This study examines the historical evolution and institutional character of civil-military relations (CMR) in South Sudan and assesses their effect on the country's national security architecture. Employing a qualitative approach with a cross-sectional survey design, data were gathered through structured interviews and documentary analysis from purposively selected military officers, government officials, civil society actors, and representatives of international organizations. The findings show that the South Sudan People's Defense Forces (SSPDF) originated from the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), a liberation movement whose guerrilla organizational culture, personalized command structures, and ethnically based mobilization have persisted into the post-independence era. This legacy has produced a pronounced fusion of military and political authority, with the SSPDF and the ruling Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) maintaining strong institutional and personal ties, entrenching militarization of public and political life and impeding civilian oversight. The study concludes that the incomplete transformation of the SPLA into a professional, apolitical national army has undermined constitutional civilian control, eroded public trust in security institutions, and contributed to persistent instability, compounded by the proliferation of small arms, weak implementation of security sector reforms, and the spread of institutional pathologies across other uniformed services. The study calls for comprehensive, context-sensitive security sector reform, greater professionalism within the armed forces, and robust civilian oversight mechanisms to support national stability and democratic governance in South Sudan.