An analysis published by AllAfrica highlights how South Sudan's political elite have established mechanisms to profit from both conflict and peace, fifteen years after the nation's independence from Sudan in 2011.
The report argues that while formal independence ended the north-south civil war, it failed to resolve deeper struggles over resource control and governance, allowing entrenched interests to maintain economic dominance regardless of the security environment.
The findings underscore persistent structural risks in one of Africa's most fragile oil-producing states.
South Sudan's economy remains heavily dependent on crude oil exports, yet political instability and governance deficits have repeatedly disrupted production and revenue collection.
Investors monitoring the region view these dynamics as a key driver of supply-side uncertainty, particularly given the country's reliance on Sudanese infrastructure for export pipelines.
This governance challenge aligns with broader regional trends where sovereign wealth funds and international arms supply chains are altering the balance of power in conflict zones.