Violent Conflict and Youth Live Hoods Security in Bor Town, Jonglei State, South Sudan

The overall objective of this study was to establish the effects of violent conflict on the youths’ livelihoods security in Bor town. The specific objectives were to: identify conflict drivers among the youth; assess conflict effects relative to youth productive activities; and establish the link between conflicts and economic exclusion of the youth in Bor. The research method applied was descriptive survey, and mixed method approach. The target population was 262 youth however: only 187 responded to the survey. Data from questionnaires was analysed using descriptive statistics and presented in frequencies and percentages using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version) as well as narrative for qualitative data. From the first objective the study found out that violent conflict in Bor is caused by; favouritism, marginalisation, political supremacy, foreign interference, fighting militias, economic hardships, tribalism, power struggle and lack of good management of resources. The second objective found out that 89% of the respondents cited that internal conflicts have affected the state while 11% did not. Looking at ways in which the state has been affected, 52.7%stated foreign interference contributed to internal conflicts, 47.4% militias were a cause of internal conflict and 41.1% felt tribalism was a cause of internal conflicts. 67% of the respondents noted that the youth were involved in positive inclination towards violent conflict whereas 33% were not involved. More so 69% of the respondents noted that most of the youth in Bor were very highly involved in violent conflict, 20% were highly involved whereas 8% were very lowly involved. Majority of the respondents, 85% noted that the government never helped in eradicating acts of violent conflict in Bor whereas 15% felt that the government helped in eradicating acts of violent conflict. In finding out further how the government helped, 16% stated it offered youth education 84 negated it, 8% stated it had offered positive youth development whereas 92% denied it and 3% it funded youth projects while 97% said the reverse 2% felt it offered appropriate advice and 98% said no support to the youth. Therefore; violent conflict in Jonglei state is closely linked to the prevailing security vacuum in rural area and the quest for cattle raids and child abduction. The study recommends that the government of South Sudan and the peace agreement signatories in line with their existing commitments, should support the inclusion of a people-centred goals on peace, governance and justice in a development framework. The proposed targets aimed at addressing drivers of violence, conflict and insecurity should be consolidated and improved through consultation with civil society. Lastly, there should be increased accountability of regional multilateral institutions and national government through transparent systems, which measure and monitor forms of violence and conflict, rule of law and access to justice, governance and security provision using harmonized indicators. Key words:Violent conflict, youth, resources