A Comparative Analysis of Women's Political Participation in South Sudan, 2021–2026: An African Feminist Perspective

This comparative study analyses the shifting dynamics of women’s political participation in South Sudan from 2021 to 2026, interrogating the persistent gap between constitutional provisions for gender equity and women’s lived realities. Employing an African feminist theoretical lens, the research critiques liberal inclusion models, foregrounding the complex interplay of customary authority, post-conflict patronage systems, and women’s collective agency. Methodologically, it utilises a rigorous qualitative comparative case study design. Primary data derive from 47 semi-structured interviews with women politicians, activists, and community leaders, complemented by critical documentary analysis of legislative records and party manifestos from the 2021–2024 transitional period and the 2025–2026 electoral cycle. The findings reveal that while quota systems have increased numerical representation, substantive participation remains constrained by entrenched patriarchal norms and economic dependencies. Crucially, the study identifies how women navigate these constraints through strategic alliances within and beyond formal institutions, often leveraging maternalist discourses and kinship networks to assert political influence. The research argues that understanding women’s political engagement in South Sudan necessitates moving beyond a focus on parliamentary seats to appreciate these nuanced, culturally embedded strategies of resistance and negotiation. This analysis contributes to African feminist political thought by demonstrating the necessity of context-specific frameworks that recognise women’s agency in post-conflict states, offering critical insights for policymakers aiming to foster transformative and sustainable gender equality.