War, Migration and Work examines the history of labour migration and labour relations in present day South Sudan’s Baher El-Ghazal borderlands with Darfur and Kordofan (regions of present day Sudan). Beginning in the nineteenth century, the report charts the evolution of the labour system from slavery to present-day forms of wage-labour, based on cash and debt. The report views this change in the context of the region’s long history of conflict, including the two Sudanese civil wars, plus South Sudan’s more recent domestic conflict, which have contributed to the remaking of economic and social system tied to the market.
This report is a product of the FCDO’s Cross-Border Conflict Evidence, Policy and Trends (XCEPT) programme, funded by UK aid from the UK government. XCEPT brings together leading experts to examine conflict-affected borderlands, how conflicts connect across borders, and the factors that shape violent and peaceful behaviour.
The programme carries out research to better understand the causes and impacts of conflict in border areas and their international dimensions. It supports more effective policymaking and development programming and builds the skills of local partners. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the UK government’s official policies.
Author: Joseph Diing Majok is a researcher with the Rift Valley Institute in South Sudan. He holds a BA in Anthropology from the University of Juba and is currently studying for an MSc in Africa and International Development at the University of Edinburgh. Diing has authored or co-authored several reports for RVI as part of the X-Border Local Research Network.
