Return of the South Sudanese to Khartoum-(Re)Claiming Their Right to the City as Urban Refugees

Abstract

In 2011 South Sudan officially seceded from Sudan, after decades of conflict. Due to this prior conflict many Southern Sudanese sought refuge in the more stable northern cities particularly Khartoum. With secession occurring thousands of South Sudanese began to depart the city to return to the city that had seen rapid development years prior to secession. The South Sudanese who left Khartoum hoped that this secession would lead to better and safer livelihoods, where they would no longer be politically and economically marginalized. However, this hope did not last long, as the South Sudanese Civil War broke out in 2013. This was the cause of a new wave of South Sudanese returning to Sudan and Khartoum however in a much different circumstance as refugees from a foreign country. The South Sudanese who have returned face greater struggles as they are a subset of the urban poor, in a city that is economically stagnant. However there are efforts of the South Sudanese in reclaiming their urban rights and access to the city of Khartoum. This reclamation ultimately improves their livelihoods and creates dynamics that promote more inclusivity within the city. This reclamation will be investigated by looking into the South Sudanese (1) Individual Rights, (2) Household Rights, (3) Neighborhood and City Rights.