Political conflict has further destabilised an already economically fragile country. South Sudan is the most oil-dependent country in the world – oil accounts for around 60% of the country's GDP. Outside of the oil sector, livelihoods are concentrated in low productive, unpaid agriculture work. In 2017, famine was declared in two counties and millions have been on the brink of starvation since.
In this roundtable discussion, Dr Edward Thomas discussed how South Sudan’s dependence on oil rents has disconnected the state from the lives of most South Sudanese people, and explored how ordinary people, who until recently, lived at the edge of the market systems, are moving towards markets.
