Influence of Inter-Communal Conflicts on Human Security in Torit County, Eastern Equatoria State in South Sudan

William Omoro; Panuel Mwaeke; Israel Nyadera

doi:10.18535/sshj.v8i09.1138

Abstract

This study established the influence of Inter-Communal Conflicts on Human Security in Torit County. Specifically, the study established the nature of Inter-communal conflicts and their influence on economic interactions, analyzed the emerging dimensions of human insecurity interventions to inter-communal conflict, and examined how effective the emerging dimensions of human insecurity interventions are in addressing to inter-communal conflict in Torit County. The study was anchored on Conflict Transformation Theory and Problem-Solving Theory. survey research design was utilized and a random sampling procedure was employed to select a sample of 200 from a target population of 400 security personnel in the study area. The methods of data collection were questionnaire and key informant interviews. Descriptive statistics and content analysis were the methods of data analysis. The study established that political incitement (31%) is the major cause of inter-communal conflicts, the major economic effect of the inter-communal conflicts is migration (33%), the common measure that has been utilized to avert inter-communal conflicts in the study area is holding of community meetings (36%), that majority interventions to inter-communal conflicts have not been effective (54%) because of political interference (33%). The study concluded that the major cause of inter-communal conflicts is political incitement because politicians utilize the poverty situation to incite the members of the community to fight in order to retain their political seats or for other benefits. The study also concluded that the common measure that has been utilized to avert inter-communal conflicts in the study area is the holding of community meetings where elders from communities meet to discuss and solve a conflict involving communities to curb confrontation or losses associated with conflicts. In addition, the study concluded that despite the measures put in place to address the perennial inter-communal conflicts still the problem persists because of political interference. The study recommended that there is a need for severe penalties for politicians inciting community members to engage in inter-communal conflicts. Also, the government should subject community elders to intense training on conflict resolution methods and techniques to help them have knowledge on how best to address inter-communal conflicts.

Keywords: Inter-Communal Conflicts, Human Security, Emerging Dimensions.

Keywords

Inter-Communal ConflictsHuman SecurityEmerging Dimensions

References

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[refR-2] Azuonwu, G. (2002). Understanding group dynamics: Effective tool for conflict resolution in Nigeria. Evi-Coleman Publication.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-3] Dagne, T. (2011). The republic of South Sudan: Opportunities and challenges for Africa’s newest country. United States Congressional Research Service.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-4] https://www.refworld.org/docid/4e3909482.htmlGoogle Scholar ↗

[refR-5] Fosnacht, K., & Sarraf, S., & Howe, E., & Peck, L. K. (2017). "How important are high response rates for college surveys?" The Review of Higher Education, 40(2), 245-265.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-6] doi.org/10.1353/rhe.2017.0003DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-7] Huho, J. (2012). Conflict resolution among pastoral communities in West Pokot County, Kenya: A missing link. Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 3(3), 2-22.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-8] Kumar, R. (2011). Research methodology: A step-by-step guide for beginners (3rd ed.). Sage.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-9] Matthew, R., Brown, O., & Jensen, D. (2009). From conflict to peace building: The role of natural resources and the environment. UNEP. pp. 16 -35.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-10] McMichael, G. (2014). Rethinking access to inter-communal and violence in post-war cities: Reflections from Juba, Southern Sudan. Environment and Urbanization, 26(6), 389–400.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-11] https://doi.org/10.1177/0042098015612960.DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-12] Muhammad-Bande, T. (2015). “Security, national integration and challenges of development in Nigeria”. In S. Khalid, H. Abdullahi, I. M. Dankani, Y. Baba, & U. Abdulkadir, (Eds.), Security, national integration and challenges of development in Nigeria. [A Publication of the Faculty of Social Sciences]. Usmanu Danfodiyo UniversityGoogle Scholar ↗

[refR-13] Mulu, K. (2008). The role of regional organizations in conflict management: IGAD and the Sudanese civil war. Catholic University of Eastern Africa, pp. 3-28.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-14] Mugenda, A. (2008). Social science research: Theory and principles. Applied Research & Training Services.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-15] Mohammed, A., & Beyene, F. (2015). Social capital and pastoral institutions in conflict management: evidence from eastern Ethiopia. Journal of International Development, 28(1), 74-88Google Scholar ↗

[refR-16] Oboh, V. U., & Hyande, A. (2006). Impact of communal conflicts on agricultural production in Oye community of Oju LGA in Benue State. In T. Gyuse, & O. Ajene, (Eds.), Conflicts in the Benue valley. Benue State University PressGoogle Scholar ↗

[refR-17] Olaoba, O. (2000). The traditional approaches to conflict resolution in the South West zone of Nigeria. Nigeria Army Quarterly Journal, 5(1), 22-37.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-18] Oludare, O. M., Paul, O. E., & Micheal, O.C. (2015). “Economic and natural resources as the major cause of conflicts in Nigeria: Nature, trends and implications”. In S. Khalid, H. Abdullahi, I. Dankani, Y. Baba, & U. Abdulkadir, (Eds.), Security, national integration and challenges of development in Nigeria (pp. 431- 456). [A Publication of the Faculty of Social Sciences]. Usmanu Danfodiyo University.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-19] Okoli, A. C. (2016). Nomadic pastoralism and the trajectory of Fulani militancy in Central Nigeria. Draft Project Proposal Submitted to African Peace building Network, New York.Google Scholar ↗

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[refR-21] Peytchev, A. (2013). Consequences of survey nonresponse. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 645(1), 88-111.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-22] https://doi.org/10.1177/0002716212461748DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-23] Sara De Simone (December 23, 2015). Building a fragmented state: Inter-communal governance and conflict in South Sudan.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-24] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/Google Scholar ↗

[refR-25] Silverman, D. (2001). Interpreting Qualitative Data: Methods for Analysing Talk, Text and Interaction. London: Sage.Google Scholar ↗