South Sudan’s Injustice System: Law and Activism on the Frontline

COMING INTO existence amid a wave of optimism in 2011, South Sudan has since slid into violence and conflict.

Even in the face of escalating civil war, however, the people of the country continue to fight for justice, despite a widespread culture of corruption and impunity. Drawing on extensive new research, Rachel Ibreck examines people’s lived experiences as they navigate South Sudan’s fledgling justice system, as well as the courageous efforts of lawyers, activists, and ordinary citizens to assert their rights and hold the government to account.

In doing so, the author reveals how justice plays out in a variety of settings, from displacement camps to chiefs’ courts, and in cases ranging from communal land disputes to the country’s turbulent peace process. Based on a collaborative research project carried out with South Sudanese activists and legal practitioners, the book also demonstrates the value of conducting researching with, rather than simply about those affected by conflict. At heart, this is a people’s story of South Sudan – what works in this troubled country is what people do for themselves.

Speakers:

Dr Rachel Ibreck – Author and Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at Goldsmiths, University of London.

Alex de Waal – Executive Director of the World Peace Foundation and Research Professor at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.

Benjamin Avelino – South Sudanese Community Leadership (UK in Europe)

Matthew Sterling Benson – Phd, Durham University

Chair: Mawan Muortat -South Sudan Political Analyst

About the Series

Written by experts with an unrivalled knowledge of the continent, African Arguments is a series of concise, engaging books that address the key issues currently facing Africa. Topical and thought-provoking, accessible but in-depth, they provide essential reading for anyone interested in getting to the heart of both why contemporary Africa is the way it is and how it is changing. The African Arguments series is published for the International African Institute by Zed Books in association with the Royal African Society.

Copies ofSouth Sudan’s Injustice System: Law and Activism on the Frontline by Rachel Ibreck will be on sale at the event.

Date & Time: October 10 – 19:00 – 20:30 – Venue: Khalili Lecture Theatre, SOAS, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG – Price: Free