Case Study 1: Mary Deng​

The South Sudanese returnee’s story - Mary Deng's life was marked by uncertainty and hope when South Sudan declared its independence in 2011. Like many other South Sudanese, she had spent years in the north, fleeing the brutal civil war that tore apart her homeland. When the chance came to return, she packed what little she had and took her five children back to her ancestral home, dreaming of a peaceful future. Yet, what greeted her was far from the hopeful vision she imagined.

The infrastructure in South Sudan was practically non-existent—schools, hospitals, and roads were scarce or in poor condition. Mary struggled to find food and clean water. Additionally, ongoing ethnic violence turned daily life into a dangerous gamble. Her children, like many others, were often afraid to venture out due to the constant threat of militia attacks. "We came back thinking life would be better, but it’s harder now than before," Mary lamented. She represents hundreds of thousands who returned to South Sudan only to be caught in a cycle of poverty and insecurity​.

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Case Study 2: Ahmed​

The Northern Sudanese farmer’s struggle - For Ahmed, a farmer in northern Sudan, the partition was not just a political event—it was an economic disaster. Before South Sudan's secession, Sudan relied heavily on oil revenue, much of which came from oil fields located in the south. Once those fields were lost to South Sudan, the economic situation in northern Sudan began to crumble.

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Ahmed, who had relied on affordable fuel for his farming equipment and government subsidies, found himself facing rapidly rising costs and reduced income. Inflation soared, and the once fertile lands he worked on were becoming increasingly difficult to manage. To make matters worse, conflict in nearby border regions, particularly in South Kordofan and the Abyei area, disrupted his ability to safely access his farmland. "We used to produce enough to feed our families and sell in the markets. Now, we barely survive," he explained. His story reflects the broader economic pain felt by those in northern Sudan, who, like Ahmed, were left vulnerable by the loss of oil wealth and ongoing regional conflicts​.

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Case Study 3: James

The child soldier’s struggle - James was barely a teenager when he was first recruited by a militia during Sudan’s civil war. Like many boys in his village, he was forced to pick up arms and fight in a war he hardly understood. When South Sudan gained independence, there was hope that boys like James would have a chance at a normal life. International agencies promised reintegration programs, education, and opportunities for a future outside of violence. But for many, including James, the reality was starkly different.

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Post-independence South Sudan descended into internal ethnic conflict, and former child soldiers like James were drawn back into the fighting. Without jobs, education, or any real support, it was hard to resist the pull of militias offering food, protection, and a sense of belonging. James' story illustrates the tragic cycle of violence that continues in South Sudan, where young men, instead of finding peace, have been thrust into another brutal conflict. "I want to stop fighting, but I don’t know how," James said, echoing the sentiment of thousands of boys who have known nothing but war​.