Refugees and Internationalization of Internal Conflicts in Africa: a Case Study of South Sudan

Abstract

The conflict in South Sudan has attracted interests from both regional actors as well as international actors driven by various interests. Presence of ethnic groups jostling for power as well as the resources within the youngest nation on the continent as well as involvement of external actors who have varying interests in the nation, have ensured that the nation remains restive with peace being ever elusive. Besides the immediate manifestation of the impacts of the conflict such as refugees the conflict has had far reaching consequences both within and without the nation. The main objective of this study shall be to focus on the role of refugees in the internationalization of conflict in Africa with South Sudan as a case study. The specific objectives shall form the chapters that shall further interrogate the problem of refugees as agents of internationalization. The study shall also examine the role of actors to the conflict as well as factors that have led to the internationalization of the conflict in South Sudan with an aim of highlighting the impact of the conflict on regional security and stability. The concept of Conflict Internationalization, shall form the conceptual framework of the study. Both primary and secondary data shall form the mode of data collection for purposes of carrying out the study. The findings of the study shall be guided by use of hypotheses. The study also aims to come up with recommendations aimed at influencing policy in order for lasting solutions to be found in regards to the conflict in South Sudan.