The main purpose of this thesis is to test a communications solution for the second to largest refugee settlement in the world, Bidi Bidi. A solution where it is possible to inform the refugees with necessary information, for example that the water at a specific location is currently contaminated or that food is provided at another location. The idea is to use nRF24L01+ modules which operate in the 2.4 GHz frequency band and send information through various ways. This includes turning LEDs' on and off, sending text Strings and streaming audio. The results showed that the modules are too unreliable for a refugee settlement. They also showed that it is not possible to send other types' of data while streaming audio, but there could be workarounds. It is clear that more knowledge and further investigations are needed.

The goal of the thesis was to shed light on the ways in which the People's Republic of China secures its energy security and identify the role of Chinese investments in Africa. The economic development results in increased demand for energy resources. In 1993 China became a net oil importer. Conceptualization of energy security in China consists in strengthening relations with oil-rich countries. In certain areas such as industry, transportation and military oil represents for now to that extent of use an irreplaceable source of energy. Therefore I will focus on activities of the People's Republic of China. More specifically, I will focus on investment activities of China in Sudan/South Sudan and Libya. Compared to the West, China seems to be a convenient business partner as it abides by the noninterference into another state's affairs rule. The rationale behind this principle is that every state has a right to choose its model of governance development while taking into consideration its unique conditions. Additionally, China puts emphasis on mutual benefits of South-South cooperation and does not condition investments with the request for changes in political system and banking sector of a recipient state. China chooses its partner countries based on political and stability and state of security...

The internationalisation of conflicts has made the study of the effects of external support a prominent subfield within peace and conflict studies. How supporting states affect conflict strategies and changes the conflict dynamic has been the prime concern of this thesis. I have argued that when a government actor is supported by an external state with high soft power, in the form of political and economic capital, the government is less inclined to use one-sided violence as a conflict strategy. By using the principal- agent theory as a model to explain the relationship between the supporter and the supported state, I have found support for my argument. The government of the Central African Republic has conducted low levels of one-sided violence when supported by the soft power France. The government of South Sudan, on the other hand, has conducted high levels of one-sided violence when supported by the non-soft power Uganda. By coming to this conclusion, this paper has introduced soft power as an important concept in peace and conflict studies while also helping to elucidate the role of external supporters in conflict strategies. Future research should develop on the findings in this thesis by controlling for other possible explanations to why one-sided violence decreases depending on the characteristics of the support and include a greater number of cases.

South Sudan currently has the third largest refugee crisis around the globe, with over 3.7 million people being displaced from their homes due to ethnic and political civil war. Over 2 million of these refugees have been displaced from their home country, seeking asylum in refugee settlements that neighbor South Sudan. One of the most important needs within these settlements is adequate housing. Through polling and census data, it has been found that more than half of the refugees are living in dilapidated housing conditions, without any resources to make repairs. The average amount of time spent within these settlements is over a decade and is increasingly getting worse as more refugees enter these settlements. Due to the exponential technological advancements in 3D printing technology, using this form of construction could potentially address a situation within a refugee settlement. 3D printing technology could provide benefits due to its ability to produce housing units at a high rate, its ability to use clay aggregate soil as construction material, mimicking adobe brick housing found in Africa, and the ability to lower the need for labor within these settlements. This thesis will explore the idea of employing this technology within a refugee settlement, to test if it can appropriately balance the implementation of a high tech 21st century technology with the historic and cultural vernacular architecture found regionally throughout Africa. / Master of Architecture / The country of South Sudan currently is experiencing the third largest refugee crisis around the globe. Over 2.5 million refugees have fled their home country of South Sudan and are entering refugee settlements from neighboring countries. Due to the exponential increasing rate of refugees within these settlements, issues such as overcrowding and inadequate housing are afflicting the lives of everyone here. Typical houses in South Sudan consist of mud and adobe brick material known as "tukul huts". While these huts have remained the leading housing type for the past 2,000 years, these houses where not intended for addressing the common refugee crisis we are experience today. These huts require the period of months to construct and extensive physical labor. Given that the refugees are entering these settlements at an exponential rate, it is ineffective to approach housing construction in a traditional manner due to the time and effort it requires to keep up with the high demand. A possible way to address this concern, is by looking at other construction practices that could potentially supplement the traditional forms of erecting houses. Construction technology has advanced to the point where 3D printers can create life size structures that provide housing to individuals. This thesis will explore the idea of employing 3D printers into a South Sudanese refugee settlement, to see if it can adequately produce houses that provide shelter for the incoming refugees.

The thesis addresses the role of national oil companies and their overseas engagement in the foreign policy decision-making process of states. Over the past 40 years, national oil companies have gained importance in the international oil industry and currently control around 90 per cent of the global oil reserves. A number of political and economic factors – depleting domestic reserves, economic growth – have resulted in an increasing expansion of Asian national oil companies to Africa. Through the use of two Asian national oil companies – Malaysia's Petronas and India's Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) – and their overseas engagement in Sudan and South Sudan as case studies, the thesis assesses three aspects: factors and motives that influence the relationship between government institutions and Petronas and ONGC, the connection between this domestic relationship and the overseas engagement of both companies, and the implications of the overseas engagement of Petronas and ONGC in both Sudans for the foreign policy decision-making process of Malaysia and India. This set of questions is analysed through a comparative case study design that is supported by in-depth interviews and based on Foreign Policy Analysis (FPA), proposing a four-level theoretical framework. This thesis thus seeks to demonstrate how FPA can help assess the connection between the domestic decision-making process and the international engagement of the companies. In doing so, it not only argues that process and engagement are in fact connected, but also critically addresses conventional assumptions about the overseas engagement of national oil companies. Furthermore, this thesis questions the idea that government institutions and national oil companies act in a coherent and coordinated manner when operating abroad.

In 2011, South Sudan became independent through the agreement and implementation of the comprehensive peace agreement (CPA). However, interethnic conflict also escalated. This cycle of violence impacts the psychological and physical health of local society. When violence between ethnic groups escalates, civilians may be forced to flee their homes. This study employed a phenomenological research approach that examined the views and experiences of the recruited 13 members from the state of Jonglei; 5 members of the Dinka, 3 members of the Murle, and 5 members of the Nuer ethnic groups residing in the United States. In an attempt to understand the root causes of the conflict between ethnic groups, this research used a qualitative study plan that examined interethnic politics, perceptions, and beliefs among South Sudanese ethnic groups: Dinka, Murle, and Nuer. In addition, this study examined the presence of armed ethnic groups, the use of guns, and the relationship between trauma caused by past exposure or experience of violence and subsequent interethnic groups conflict. Data were analyzed with descriptive and patterned coding. The 5 identified themes from analysis of the collected data were: roles of ethnic identity, lack of trust in the system of the distribution of resources, roles of ethnic politicians, uncontrollable use of guns and defense of ethnic territory. In addition, the past war incidents between ethnic groups have a negative impact on the present relationship. The findings of this research may create positive social change for ethnic groups and for communities who may use it as an opportunity to understand their own problems and to establish an ethnic advocacy type of conflict resolution in South Sudan.

The thesis deals with the analysis of the oil industry in Sudan and South Sudan in the 21st century. The first part follows up the role of oil in the African continent; the history of oil production, the rest is devoted to a more detailed analysis of the oil sector in Sudan or South Sudan after 2011. Then the characteristics of future scenarios are realized. The scenarios are affected by the civil war in the South Sudan and border disputes between the North and the South.

Utafiti huu unachunguza maenezi ya lugha ya Kiswahili katika taifa la Sudan Kusini kwa kuangazia njia zilizotumika kuisambaza hii lugha ya Kiswahili nchini humo. Unachunguza pia changamoto za lugha ya Kiswahili nchini Sudan Kusini na mustakabali wake. Data ya utafiti huu imekusanywa nyanjani kupitia kifaa cha mahojiano ambapo tuliwahoji wenyeji wa Sudan Kusini na wafanyakazi wa mashirika mbalimbali nchini Sudan Kusini. Utafiti huu umebaini kuwa Kiswahili kimeingia Sudan Kusini kwa msaada wa nyenzo mbalimbali kama vile vita, biashara, elimu, maingiliano ya mipakani, dini na ndoa. Utafiti huu pia unajadili baadhi ya vizuizi vinavyoweza kutatiza ukuaji na ueneaji wa Kiswahili katika taifa la Sudan Kusini kama vile tishio kubwa la ushindani na upinzani wa makundi ya lugha za Sudan Kusini na lugha ya Kiarabu ambayo ndiyo lugha ya maenezi mapana, na hali kadhalika lugha ya Kiingereza ambayo ni moja katika lugha zinazoenziwa katika taifa la Sudan Kusini hasa kwa kuwa lugha ya kimataifa. Imebainika pia kuwa sababu kubwa za kujifundisha Kiswahili kwa wenyeji wengi wa Sudan Kusini kumechangiwa na haja ya kutaka kujitambulisha na kujinasibisha na makundi mbalimbali ya Afrika Mashariki. Utafiti huu unahoji pia kuwa mustakabali wa lugha ya Kiswahili utategemea sera ya lugha nchini Sudan Kusini na utekelezaji wa matakwa ya Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki ya kufanya Kiswahili kuwa lugha ya maenezi mapana katika eneo la Afrika Mashariki nakopatikana nchi ya Sudan Kusini. / This paper examines the spread of Swahili to South Sudan. It explores the challenges of the language in South Sudan and its potential future status and use. Data from this study were collected through interviews with South Sudanese residents and employees of various organizations. The study reveals that Swahili has gained ground in South Sudan due to war, trade, education, cross-border interaction, religion and marriage practices. This study also discusses some of the impeding barriers to the growth and spread of the language, e.g., with reference to the status and use Arabic and English. It is also observed that among the main reasons for learning Swahili for many South Sudanese people is the need to identify with other East Africans. The study also argues that the future of the language will depend on the language policies in South Sudan and the implementation of the East African Community's aspirations to make Swahili a widespread language beyond its core regions.

Women’s rights and female security is a growing concern in several conflicts around the world. In Congo, conflict-related violence has long been used as weapon and Congo has today become known as the “rape capital” beacuse of these war rapes. Further more, reports from South Sudan states that UN troops has ignored pleas for help by women being raped. United Nation Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 was implemented by the UN Security Council to combat conflict-related violence and add a gender perspective in UN Peacekeeping operations.  The aim of this thesis is to analyze the impact of UNSCR 1325 by comparing UN Peacekeeping operations’ mandates and actions before and after the resolution was implemented. The thesis will also analyse the UN’s action to eliminate conflict-based sexual violence and war rape. The peacekeeping operations that will be discussed are MINURSO (West Sahara) MONUSCO (Congo) and UNMISS (South Sudan). In order to do so, the theory of Female Security Studies [FSS] and Militarized Masculinity will be applied. In our thesis, the UN’s actions were found to be insufficient. The main factors resulting in this insufficiency was found to be the systematic failure to take the actions needed to implement UNSCR 1325, such as the increasing the number of female involvement in peacekeeping and peacebuilding processes. In large, the impact of UNSCR 1325 could have been bigger if the resolution had been implemented more efficiently. While the written changes were significant with the implementation of the resolution, these changes were not as visible among the actual actions taken in the peacekeeping operations in West Sahara, Congo and South Sudan.

[pt] Esta dissertação procura analisar as diferentes abordagens à proteção de civis (PoC, da sigla em inglês) mobilizadas por agentes policiais/militares e humanitários em situações de conflito armado e emergências humanitárias onde há presença de operações de paz das Nações Unidas. Inspirada pelas estratégias de análise de discurso pós-estrutural, a dissertação se concentra nos PoC sites no Sudão do Sul, espaços que abrigam civis deslocados pela violência e perseguição desde a conflagração do conflito armado em curso, em dezembro de 2013. Tais espaços de proteção têm integrado as estratégias e práticas de proteção avançadas tanto por humanitários quando pela Missão das Nações Unidas no Sudão do Sul (UNMISS) e são tomados como um microcosmo privilegiado para a análise do(s) discurso(s) de proteção, dada a coexistência de diferentes racionalidades de proteção que os caracteriza. Orientada por um arcabouço teórico-conceitual foucaultiano, a dissertação mobiliza os conceitos de poder soberano, governamentalidade e biopolítica desenvolvidos por Michel Foucault e trabalhados por literaturas críticas às operações de paz e ao humanitarismo. Defende-se que as racionalidades de proteção avançadas pelos setores humanitário e de segurança seguem a racionalidade do poder policial, entendido como um conjunto de tecnologias e técnicas quem mantêm a ordem e protegem a vida no nível da população, mas também decidem sobre a suspensão da lei. Apontando para a relação entre proteção, policiamento e excepcionalidade desenvolvida nos PoC sites, tais espaços serão analisados a partir do conceito de campo de Giorgio Agamben: espaços de normalização da excepcionalidade em que a vida nua é governada. / [en] This thesis analyses different approaches to the protection of civilians (PoC) as mobilized by police/military and humanitarian actors in contexts of armed conflict and humanitarian emergencies where a United Nations peacekeeping operation is deployed. Inspired by the strategies of post-structural discourse analysis, the thesis focuses on the PoC sites in South Sudan, which have sheltered civilians fleeing from violence and persecution since armed conflict broke out in that country, in December 2013. These protected sites have been an integral part of protection strategies and practices advanced by both humanitarian actors present in the country and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and are taken here as a privileged analytical microcosm for assessing protection discourse(s) due to the colocation of different protection rationales that characterizes those spaces. Grounded on a Foucauldian theoretical-conceptual framework, this work mobilizes the concepts of sovereign power, governmentality and biopolitics developed by Michel Foucault and employed by critical literature on peacekeeping operations and humanitarian action. It is argued in the thesis that the rationales of protection advanced by both the humanitarian and security sectors work according to the rationality of police power, understood as an ensemble of technologies and techniques that maintains order and protects life among populations but also decides on the suspension of law. Pointing to the particular relationship between protection, policing and exceptionality unraveled in the context of PoC sites, these spaces will be treated as Giorgio Agamben s camps: as spaces of normalized exceptionality where bare life is managed.