​In August 2015, South Sudan’s government and the armed opposition signed a peace deal aimed at ending a civil war that started in December 2013. While the signing was cautiously hailed as a success, it was clear from the beginning that the proposed administrative and power sharing arrangements would be challenging to implement, as would be the establishment of a truth, healing and reconciliation commission. Two months after the peace agreement, President Salva Kiir issued a decree to change South Sudan’s structure from 10 to 28 states, causing uncertainty about the implementation of the peace deal within the new structure. The opposition party SPLM-IO had previously suggested a new administrative structure of 21 states.

The South Sudan Peace Agreement offers opportunities and challenges. This event brings together crucial perspectives from South Sudan and recent research to shine a light on where opportunities and challenges lie and how these various processes can become constructive for a country seeking peace. Leading this discussion is Professor Dr Luka Biong Deng - a recognised expert on the affairs of Sudan and South Sudan in the areas of poverty, vulnerability, famine, civil wars, constitution-making, and state-building.