South Sudan’s pursuit of democracy has proven challenging, with the country descending into civil war just two years after gaining independence. Despite mediation efforts by various regional and international actors, the situation remains highly unstable. This article critically examines the trajectory and prospects for democratisation in South Sudan. Specifically, it analyses the role of the primary mediator, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), in promoting democratic transition. The article develops a conceptual and theoretical framework centred on the notion of the democraticness of international organisations and applies it to assess IGAD’s role in post-conflict South Sudan. The empirical analysis highlights IGAD’s limited democratic credentials and shows how these constraints have contributed to the weak implementation of democracy-promoting provisions within South Sudan’s peace agreements. As democracy promotion remains a central concern for international actors such as IGAD, their commitment to democratic principles can play a crucial signalling role to domestic political elites and complement the efforts of pro-democracy civil society groups.
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