Effects of Conflict in Human Security Management in Lire Payam of Kajo Keji County, South Sudan

Abstract

Conflicts in most parts of Africa have resulted in the killing and displacement of people who end up in camps or government institutions for purposes of protection. The conflicts in South Sudan have negatively affected the welfare of its people, who have moved from their homes for fear of being killed to safer places. This study, therefore, investigated the effects of conflicts on human security management in Lire Payam. This study was anchored on Human Security Theory. Using a survey research design, the study drew a sample of 120 security officers from approximately 1200 security officers providing security in the study area. Systematic techniques was used to draw respondents while purposive sampling technique was used to select key informants. The data collection methods were a questionnaire and key informant interviews. Quantitative data collected were coded and analyzed by use of descriptive statistics, whereas qualitative data were analyzed thematically. The most prevalent type of conflict, as per study findings, is land-related conflict (62%), followed by the displacement of residents (38%). The most common strategy used during the conflict management by the security forces was demarcation of internal boundaries (25%). The majority of respondents (40%) had a low opinion on the effectiveness of strategies in the management of security by agencies in the Payam to had not yielded positive results due to poor communication between the organized forces and the residents due to fear of being targeted (33%). The study concludes that the nature of conflict in Lire Payam is varied, but the most common one was land-related conflict, although tribal, resource allocation, and power struggle conflicts existed in a small magnitude. The study recommends that the government needs to conduct public awareness on the significance of community and security agencies' collaboration to foster information sharing that will assist in dismantling criminal networks. To deploy more security personnel to help in the security of management during conflict, to improve on road networks to facilitate easy movement of security forces tasked to provide security during conflict management. Formation of a special police unit under the state ministry of local government to coordinate security activities in Kajo Keji County.