Theorising Women's Political Agency in Post-Conflict South Sudan: A Conceptual Framework for the Transitional Period

This theoretical article addresses a critical gap in conceptualising the unique political agency exercised by women in South Sudan's protracted transitional period (2021–2026). It contends that prevailing liberal frameworks, which prioritise formal political participation, are inadequate for capturing the nuanced, context-specific strategies South Sudanese women employ. Employing a critical African feminist methodology, the analysis centres indigenous epistemologies and lived experiences to deconstruct Western-centric models. It synthesises evidence from recent reports (2021–2024) on women's activism, examining their roles in grassroots peacebuilding, cross-ethnic solidarity networks, and navigation of hybrid governance systems where formal and informal authority intersect. The article proposes a novel conceptual framework termed 'resilient political agency'. This framework redefines agency as a continuum of adaptive practices—from everyday resistance to strategic negotiation—operating within the constraints of a fragile, patriarchal post-conflict state. Its significance lies in offering scholars and practitioners a more authentic, context-grounded analytical tool to assess and support women's political engagement. This reframing carries profound implications for policy and programming, advocating for interventions that recognise and bolster existing indigenous modes of agency rather than imposing external models. Consequently, it contributes a vital theoretical advancement to the field of African women's political studies.