Youth Gangs and overcoming waithood in a United Nations Protection of Civilians Site in South Sudan

Felix da Costa, Diana

Abstract

This article investigates contestations over the roles and legitimacy of gangs within the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Protection of Civilians (PoC) site in Bentiu, South Sudan. Drawing on qualitative interviews, it argues that ‘gangs’ represented the medium through which everyday struggles and processes of social contestations were negotiated between youth, elders, and protection actors. Prevailing narratives of gangs as violent criminal entities structured conflict with elders and protection actors, but to their affiliates, gangs provided protection, identity, belonging, responsibility, agency, and a route to overcome the limbo of ‘waithood’ and achieve social adulthood.

Citation

Felix da Costa, D. (2024). Youth Gangs and overcoming waithood in a United Nations Protection of Civilians Site in South Sudan. Journal of Intervention and Statebuilding, 18(1), 99-116. https://doi.org/10.1080/17502977.2023.2212993

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 9, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Jun 9, 2023
• Publication Date: Mar 1, 2024
• Deposit Date: Jun 26, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 26, 2023
• Journal: Journal of Intervention and Statebuilding
• Print ISSN: 1750-2977
• Electronic ISSN: 1750-2985
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 18
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 99-116
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17502977.2023.2212993
• Keywords: Youth and waithood; gangs; civilian protection; peacekeeping; South Sudan
• Publisher URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17502977.2023.2212993