Youth Gangs and overcoming waithood in a United Nations Protection of Civilians Site in South Sudan
| Main author: | Felix da Costa, Diana |
|---|---|
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Online access: |
Click here to view record |
| id |
eprints-39653 |
|---|---|
| recordtype |
eprints |
| institution |
SOAS, University of London |
| collection |
SOAS Research Online |
| language |
English |
| language_search |
English |
| description |
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. |
| format |
Journal Article |
| author |
Felix da Costa, Diana |
| author_facet |
Felix da Costa, Diana |
| authorStr |
Felix da Costa, Diana |
| author_letter |
Felix da Costa, Diana |
| title |
Youth Gangs and overcoming waithood in a United Nations Protection of Civilians Site in South Sudan |
| publisher |
Taylor and Francis |
| publishDate |
2024 |
| url |
https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/39653/
|