Work in Progress: Security Force Development in South Sudan through February 2012 (HSBA Working Paper 27)

The security forces of the Government of South Sudan (GoSS) are engaged in reform and development processes to improve their ability to respond to current and emerging threats, while facing a lack of resources and growing pressures to be more professional, affordable, and accountable. The objectives, strategies, and plans for reform and development are the subject of numerous policy doc-uments produced in the pre- and post-independence periods. A major challenge for the security forces will be to successfully implement reforms and develop-ment plans, while conducting real-time operations and coping with mounting day-to-day management issues.

This Working Paper reviews the recent evolution of the security forces, espe-cially during the last two years. It considers current and evolving threats, including border conflict with the Government of Sudan (GoS), militia and proxy forces, inter- and intra-ethnic fighting, and security force cohesion. It looks at development challenges, including competition for resources and a lack of individual capacity. It also examines outdated mindsets and conflict-ing priorities.