THE ADDIS ABABA AGREEMENT ON THE PROBLEM OF SOUTHERN SUDAN: A STUDY TO EVALUATE THE DISTRIBUTION OF BENEFITS AMONG SOCIAL GROUPS IN THE SOUTHERN SUDAN AND TO DETERMINE THE IMPACT OF THIS DISTRIBUTION ON THE REGION'S POLITICAL STABILITY

The purpose of this dissertation is to evaluate the economic, social and political benefits of the 1972 Addis Ababa Agreement between Northern and Southern Sudan and to determine the impact of their distribution on political stability in Southern Sudan. There are basically three steps in this process. The first involved a comparative analysis of economic, social and political conditions in Southern Sudan before and after the Addis Ababa Agreement to determine whether any benefits had accrued to that Region as a result of the Agreement. The second involved the evaluation of the distribution of these benefits among the three identified social group in the Region. The final step involved the analysis of the impact of benefits distribution on political stability in the Southern Region.;It was concluded from this general condition of political instability in the South that unless distribution of political benefits was undertaken in such a manner that those who had participated in the liberation struggle were substantially rewarded, political conflict in the Region was more likely to intensify. The impact of such a conflict would be a resumption of overt conflict between the North and the South which in the final analysis would adversely affect the country's political independence.;With respect to the first step, the findings were positive. That is, Southern Sudan benefited economically, politically and socially from the Agreement. Regarding the second step (distribution of benefits at the social group level), the results were mixed; while at the province level, Greater Equatoria benefited the most economically and socially, but substantially less politically. With respect to the third step, it was found that the unequal distribution of political benefits among the intelligentsia in favor of those who had not participated in the liberation struggle in Southern Sudan had generated great political unrest in the Region. This was generally manifested by numerous outbreaks of political violence, rapid turn-over of Regional governments, and the eventual demand for the "redivision" of the South into three regions.