From conflict to cohesion: the role of sports in transforming perceptions of cattle keepers in South Sudan

We investigate how a sports event has shifted inter-ethnic relations and attitudes towards cattle keepers in post-conflict South Sudan. The country has faced post-independence ethnic tensions caused by political and resource-based frictions. The National Unity Day (NUD), a sports event inaugurated in 2016, was organised to promote peace and unity through sharing moments with young athletes from different backgrounds. Drawing on interviews and survey data from the NUD 5 and NUD 6 events, the article considers stereotypes of pastoralist wrestlers and how these stereotypes have changed among participants of NUD. The results indicate that large-scale sports are a vital space to challenge disinformation and further understanding and trust among long-separated ethnic groups. Statistical examination also shows apparent differences in social interaction, trust, and community values between wrestling and other sports members, and sport performs the function of connecting separated layers of society of the nation. While sports events such as NUD have been successful in peacebuilding, this study acknowledges the methodological limitations and calls for further studies to enhance our understanding of sport as a medium for social cohesion in South Sudan’s intricate socio-political environment. The findings suggest that government-sponsored culturally specific sporting initiatives can contribute to conflict transformation by fostering dialogue, empathy building and cooperation toward a more united South Sudan.