Research Article | | Peer-Reviewed

The Quest for Financial Stabilization in the Post-Conflict Economy: A Case Study of South Sudan

Received: 26 September 2025     Accepted: 9 October 2025     Published: 30 October 2025
Views:       Downloads:
Abstract

South Sudan faced persistent financial instability rooted in excessive oil dependency, conflict-induced disruptions, weak governance, and fragile institutional capacity. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the financial reform progress in the South Sudan fiscal space and monetary policies, with the aim of assessing how reform measures have influenced macroeconomic stability, institutional effectiveness, and financial inclusion. The study adopted a qualitative-descriptive research approach supported by thematic analysis of government documents, international financial reports, and peer-reviewed studies, complemented by inferential statistical insights. The results showed that oil dependency had a strong positive correlation with financial instability (r = 0.81, p < 0.001), whereas governance effectiveness (r = -0.73, p = 0.003) and institutional capacity (r = -0.68, p = 0.001) were negatively correlated with stability. Reform initiatives, including the Public Financial Management (PFM) Reform Strategy (r = 0.56, p = 0.015), the Treasury Single Account (r = 0.49, p = 0.037), and the IMF’s Staff-Monitored Program (r = 0.63, p = 0.008), demonstrated moderate positive impacts on fiscal discipline. However, political resistance emerged as a significant barrier (r = -0.67, p = 0.001). Public financial management indicators such as timely budget preparation (r = 0.60, p = 0.002), audit enforcement (r = 0.66, p = 0.001), and central bank independence (r = 0.62, p = 0.003) were strongly associated with fiscal stability. Financial inclusion remained low, particularly in rural banking access (r = 0.72, p < 0.001) and SME credit access (r = 0.60, p = 0.004). The study concluded that achieving macroeconomic stability required sustained fiscal discipline, institutional independence, transparent governance, and inclusive financial systems to strengthen South Sudan’s long-term resilience.

Published in Journal of World Economic Research (Volume 14, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.jwer.20251402.16
Page(s) 170-178
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Stability, Dependency, Governance, Commoditization, Diversification

References
[1] African Development Bank (AfDB). (2023). African Economic Outlook 2023: Mobilizing private sector financing for climate and green growth.
[2] Craze, J. (2021). Disorder from chaos: Why South Sudan's peace process is failing. Small Arms Survey.
[3] De Waal, A. (2020). The politics of South Sudan: Elites, factions, and political settlements. World Peace Foundation.
[4] Deng, D. (2021). Economy and conflict in South Sudan: The limits of oil-led development. Rift Valley Institute.
[5] East African Community (EAC). (2022). Macroeconomic convergence and monetary policy harmonization in the EAC region.
[6] Finscope. (2024). FinScope South Sudan 2024 Survey: Consumer insights for financial inclusion.
[7] Garang, J. A. (2025). Impediments to the Evolution of Mobile Money and Financial Inclusion in South Sudan (No. cb78f530-2e9e-4afd-be28-513187bcc244).
[8] Garang, J. A. (2024). Effects of the civil war on financial inclusion in South Sudan: theory and evidence. African Journal of Economic and Sustainable Development, 9(3), 255-271.
[9] Garang, J. A. (2021). Will the impact of the pandemic on the expected National Output Persist. The Sudd Institute.
[10] Global Witness. (2023). South Sudan’s oil deals lack transparency and deepen elite capture.
[11] Gunter, M., Krause, J., & Yusuf, M. (2022). Fragile states and macroeconomic stability: Lessons from conflict-affected countries. Journal of Development Economics, 157, 102902.
[12] International Monetary Fund (IMF). (2022). South Sudan: Staff-monitored program—Review report. IMF Country Report No. 22/96.
[13] International Monetary Fund (IMF). (2023a). World economic outlook: A rocky recovery.
[14] International Monetary Fund (IMF). (2023b). Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Economic Outlook: Securing a strong recovery.
[15] International Monetary Fund (IMF). (2023c). South Sudan 2023 Article IV Consultation—Staff Report. IMF Country Report No. 23/205.
[16] Jok, J. M. (2022). Governing insecurity in South Sudan: The politics of financial mismanagement. Sudd Institute.
[17] Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). (2024). States of fragility 2024: Breaking the cycle of crisis.
[18] Okonjo-Iweala, N., El-Erian, M., & Banga, A. (2022). Africa’s recovery: Making the most of global financial reforms. Brookings Institution.
[19] Transparency International. (2024). Corruption perceptions index 2023: South Sudan remains among the lowest-ranked.
[20] United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). (2021). Trade and development report 2021: From recovery to resilience.
[21] United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). (2023a). Strengthening public finance management in South Sudan.
[22] United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). (2023b). South Sudan Human Development Report 2023: Investing in people for peace and prosperity.
[23] United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA). (2023). South Sudan: Humanitarian needs overview 2023.
[24] United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). (2023). Macroeconomic and social developments in Eastern Africa 2023.
[25] World Bank. (2023). Global Economic Prospects—January 2023: Slowing growth and mounting risks.
[26] World Bank. (2024). South Sudan Economic Update 2024: The imperative for economic diversification.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Anyak, B. G. (2025). The Quest for Financial Stabilization in the Post-Conflict Economy: A Case Study of South Sudan. Journal of World Economic Research, 14(2), 170-178. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jwer.20251402.16

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Anyak, B. G. The Quest for Financial Stabilization in the Post-Conflict Economy: A Case Study of South Sudan. J. World Econ. Res. 2025, 14(2), 170-178. doi: 10.11648/j.jwer.20251402.16

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Anyak BG. The Quest for Financial Stabilization in the Post-Conflict Economy: A Case Study of South Sudan. J World Econ Res. 2025;14(2):170-178. doi: 10.11648/j.jwer.20251402.16

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.jwer.20251402.16,
      author = {Bec George Anyak},
      title = {The Quest for Financial Stabilization in the Post-Conflict Economy: A Case Study of South Sudan
    },
      journal = {Journal of World Economic Research},
      volume = {14},
      number = {2},
      pages = {170-178},
      doi = {10.11648/j.jwer.20251402.16},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jwer.20251402.16},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jwer.20251402.16},
      abstract = {South Sudan faced persistent financial instability rooted in excessive oil dependency, conflict-induced disruptions, weak governance, and fragile institutional capacity. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the financial reform progress in the South Sudan fiscal space and monetary policies, with the aim of assessing how reform measures have influenced macroeconomic stability, institutional effectiveness, and financial inclusion. The study adopted a qualitative-descriptive research approach supported by thematic analysis of government documents, international financial reports, and peer-reviewed studies, complemented by inferential statistical insights. The results showed that oil dependency had a strong positive correlation with financial instability (r = 0.81, p < 0.001), whereas governance effectiveness (r = -0.73, p = 0.003) and institutional capacity (r = -0.68, p = 0.001) were negatively correlated with stability. Reform initiatives, including the Public Financial Management (PFM) Reform Strategy (r = 0.56, p = 0.015), the Treasury Single Account (r = 0.49, p = 0.037), and the IMF’s Staff-Monitored Program (r = 0.63, p = 0.008), demonstrated moderate positive impacts on fiscal discipline. However, political resistance emerged as a significant barrier (r = -0.67, p = 0.001). Public financial management indicators such as timely budget preparation (r = 0.60, p = 0.002), audit enforcement (r = 0.66, p = 0.001), and central bank independence (r = 0.62, p = 0.003) were strongly associated with fiscal stability. Financial inclusion remained low, particularly in rural banking access (r = 0.72, p < 0.001) and SME credit access (r = 0.60, p = 0.004). The study concluded that achieving macroeconomic stability required sustained fiscal discipline, institutional independence, transparent governance, and inclusive financial systems to strengthen South Sudan’s long-term resilience.
    },
     year = {2025}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - The Quest for Financial Stabilization in the Post-Conflict Economy: A Case Study of South Sudan
    
    AU  - Bec George Anyak
    Y1  - 2025/10/30
    PY  - 2025
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jwer.20251402.16
    DO  - 10.11648/j.jwer.20251402.16
    T2  - Journal of World Economic Research
    JF  - Journal of World Economic Research
    JO  - Journal of World Economic Research
    SP  - 170
    EP  - 178
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-7748
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jwer.20251402.16
    AB  - South Sudan faced persistent financial instability rooted in excessive oil dependency, conflict-induced disruptions, weak governance, and fragile institutional capacity. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the financial reform progress in the South Sudan fiscal space and monetary policies, with the aim of assessing how reform measures have influenced macroeconomic stability, institutional effectiveness, and financial inclusion. The study adopted a qualitative-descriptive research approach supported by thematic analysis of government documents, international financial reports, and peer-reviewed studies, complemented by inferential statistical insights. The results showed that oil dependency had a strong positive correlation with financial instability (r = 0.81, p < 0.001), whereas governance effectiveness (r = -0.73, p = 0.003) and institutional capacity (r = -0.68, p = 0.001) were negatively correlated with stability. Reform initiatives, including the Public Financial Management (PFM) Reform Strategy (r = 0.56, p = 0.015), the Treasury Single Account (r = 0.49, p = 0.037), and the IMF’s Staff-Monitored Program (r = 0.63, p = 0.008), demonstrated moderate positive impacts on fiscal discipline. However, political resistance emerged as a significant barrier (r = -0.67, p = 0.001). Public financial management indicators such as timely budget preparation (r = 0.60, p = 0.002), audit enforcement (r = 0.66, p = 0.001), and central bank independence (r = 0.62, p = 0.003) were strongly associated with fiscal stability. Financial inclusion remained low, particularly in rural banking access (r = 0.72, p < 0.001) and SME credit access (r = 0.60, p = 0.004). The study concluded that achieving macroeconomic stability required sustained fiscal discipline, institutional independence, transparent governance, and inclusive financial systems to strengthen South Sudan’s long-term resilience.
    
    VL  - 14
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

Author Information
  • Sections