This original research article examines the evolving landscape of women’s political participation in South Sudan during the critical implementation phase of the Revitalised Peace Agreement (2021–2026). It addresses a significant gap by interrogating the persistent disconnect between formal gender quotas and substantive political influence in a fragile, post-conflict state. Employing a rigorous qualitative methodology, the study analyses policy frameworks and draws on rich empirical data from semi-structured interviews with women politicians, civil society leaders, and activists across Juba and two federal states. The findings demonstrate that while the 35% quota has increased numerical representation, women navigate a complex web of patriarchal resistance, economic marginalisation, and political violence that severely curtails their agency and policy impact. The analysis argues that formal inclusion mechanisms are insufficient without concurrent, transformative shifts in socio-cultural norms and genuine political will from dominant power structures. The study’s contribution lies in its grounded, African-centred analysis, advancing theoretical and practical debates on gender, peacebuilding, and substantive democratisation. It concludes that sustainable progress necessitates strategies centred on South Sudanese women’s own experiences, moving beyond tokenistic representation towards meaningful power-sharing in the nation’s political future.