A Gendered Perspective on South Sudanese Women's Political Agency, 2021–2026

This perspective piece critically examines the evolving political agency of South Sudanese women from 2021 to 2026, a period defined by the fragile implementation of the Revitalised Peace Agreement. It argues that, despite constitutional guarantees and a 35 per cent affirmative action quota, women’s substantive political participation remains severely constrained by entrenched patriarchal norms and a volatile political landscape. Employing a qualitative, desk-based methodology, the analysis synthesises recent evidence from African-led research institutes, UN bodies, and regional organisations. It finds that while women have gained notable numerical representation in legislatures, their agency is frequently undermined by tokenistic inclusion, economic dependency, and security risks that inhibit grassroots mobilisation. Foregrounding an African feminist perspective, the analysis highlights the resilience and strategic navigation of women’s groups, who leverage formal and informal networks to advocate for peace and gender-responsive governance. The significance of this work lies in its contribution to decolonising African political studies by centring the lived experiences of South Sudanese women as essential political actors. It concludes that sustainable peace and development in South Sudan are contingent upon transforming nominal representation into genuine, influential political power for women.