Over 140,000 South Sudanese refugees have returned to their homeland six months after a peace agreement between President Salva Kiir and Dr. Riek Machar was signed, according to South Sudan’s Ministry for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management. The returnees, who originated from Uganda, Ethiopia, Central African Republic, and Sudan, mark a significant step in post-conflict recovery efforts.
Undersecretary Peter Kulang Gatwech outlined government initiatives to support reintegration, including an emergency fund providing food, medical care, and social services. The ministry is collaborating with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organisation for Migration to facilitate rehabilitation and resettlement.
The civil war that erupted in December 2013 displaced over two million South Sudanese. A 2018 peace deal brokered by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development established a ceasefire, though concerns persist about its durability. Gatwech noted returnees will receive assistance for six to 12 months before becoming self-sufficient, with property verification and community dialogues part of the process.
Despite the current scale of returns, officials acknowledge the fragile nature of the peace. Many refugees in Ugandan camps remain hesitant to return, fearing renewed conflict. The agreement mandates a transitional government by May 12, 2019, as part of broader reconciliation efforts.
