The Role of United Nations Peacekeeping Intervention on Ethno-Political Tension in South Sudan: A Case of Juba Camp.

Abstract

IDP camps frequently have a diverse population of people from various racial, ethnic, and cultural origins. These settlements’ populations can provide a complicated social fabric where numerous groups interact and might clash. Effective intervention design requires a thorough understanding of the interactions between these demographic characteristics and peacekeeping activities. IDP camps can create internal hierarchies and power systems This research investigated the complex interplay of factors contributing to ethnopolitical tensions within Juba Camp, a site for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in South Sudan. The study employed the theoretical framework of Peacekeeping and Conflict Resolution to analyze the role of U.N. peacekeeping interventions in mitigating these tensions. The objectives included examining the contributing factors, assessing the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations, and providing recommendations for improving the U.N.'s role in managing ethnopolitical tensions in similar contexts. An in-depth case study of this region would benefit from its unique dynamics, which include the population's make-up (including IDPs), conflict history, and the presence of U.N. peacekeeping personnel. By exploring the particular setting and its localized effects, this method enables researchers to grasp the research problem fully. The research results in Juba Camp were presented focusing on the main causes of ethnopolitical tensions within the camp, the efficiency of U.N. peacekeeping efforts in resolving these tensions, and suggestions for enhancing peacekeeping operations in conflict-affected areas. Internally displaced people (IDPs) and UN peacekeeping personnel were among the 56 participants in focus groups and interviews that were used to gather the data. Pseudonyms are employed to safeguard respondents' identity, and the results are analyzed in light of the study's goals. There is not an abundance of thorough studies exploring the localized effects of these operations, but the current literature on U.N. peacekeeping efforts frequently summarizes missions in war zones. Juba Camp is a special microcosm of the difficulties encountered in IDP camps, which are frequently disregarded in academic studies. Conflict recurrence, political instability, and ethnic division have all been significant features of South Sudan’s history. Understanding the intricate linkages between these variables and the peacekeeping effort is centered around Juba Camp. Understanding the localized context helps one better comprehend how U.N. initiatives function within a particular sociopolitical setting. The research aimed to offer complex perspectives on the sociopolitical, cultural, and historical factors influencing ethnopolitical conflicts. The results of the study will advance knowledge of the dynamics found in IDP camps and provide useful suggestions for improving the effectiveness of U.N. peacekeeping operations.