This report is the second report in a series looking at the relationship between modern-day Puntland, a semi-autonomous region of north-east Somalia, Yemen and the wider Gulf region. It focuses on the port city of Bosaso, which, historically, built its economic fortunes on easy access to the sea lanes of the Gulf of Aden and markets of the Arabian Peninsula.
The displacement of millions of rural producers has made South Sudan one of the hungriest places on earth—and caused a chronic cereal deficit. This report explains how South Sudan’s reliance on regional grain markets is shaping its international relations. But it also looks in detail at everyday life: how homegrown grains give South Sudan’s diverse cultures flavours, memories, meanings and…
Taking the Ethiopia-South Sudan borderlands as a case study, Rethinking Aid in Borderland Spaces argues that the traditional modalities of the aid industry are not fit for purpose in a world where transnationalism is a daily reality for communities, even—perhaps even especially—in the most geographically remote locations.
This report aims to better inform those working on humanitarian assistance, particularly to populations on the move, peace and development in South Sudan and the region, particularly international actors less familiar with these dynamics. Billions of dollars are spent on humanitarian and peacekeeping programmes globally every year, yet, despite being critical to the lives of millions of…
La gouvernance de la sécurité locale à l'est du Congo explore la mise en œuvre des CLSP dans la chefferie de Buhavu dans le territoire de Kalehe au Sud-Kivu. Le rapport offre des informations précieuses sur la façon dont les entités rurales gèrent la sécurité dans un contexte de rareté des ressources, de groupes armés, de conflits intercommunautaires et de la concurrence entre les…
Governing local security in the eastern Congo offers valuable insights into how rural entities manage security in the context of resource scarcity, armed groups, intercommunal conflict and competition among state authorities. Although some successes have been achieved, reform efforts have the potential to disrupt prevailing security governance arrangements, which in turn, may trigger…
Après plus de deux décennies de conflit violent permanent, les groupes armés—quel que soit le caractère plus ou moins fugace de leur existence—sont devenus une caractéristique incontournable de l’ordre socio-politique au Congo oriental. Ils n’y sont pas une aberration provisoire dans ce qui est, par ailleurs, une société normale. Ils sont au cœur des mécanismes par lesquels le pouvoir est…
During war, geographies of economic and political power are often recast by shifting patterns of trade and population movements. This can present an opportunity for local leaders to reshape legal and moral logics to attract trade and people to areas under their control. But these shifts can also create ambiguities and tensions that extend into times of peace.
Changing Power Among Murle Chiefs investigates how Murle customary authorities—in particular, red chiefs—navigate and negotiate political, military and spiritual authority, while simultaneously challenging the view that Murle society has no organic leaderships structures. The challenge is not the absence of leadership structures but rather their abundance and the difficulties they…
Speaking Truth to Power focuses on the life of Kolang Ket—a major prophet in the early twentieth century. His story, as recounted in the Bentiu POCS, includes his seizure by the deity known as MAANI, how he has wielded political authority and his legacy, which extends to the present day. Acknowledging the influence of the prophets is important to those trying to understand the…
