Terefe (PhD), FekadeAddam, Alexander2019-12-182023-11-182019-12-182023-11-182019-06http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/12345678/20415South Sudan became an independent state in July 9, 2011, following an internationally monitored referendum, which was held on 9 January. However, almost after three years of independence, the world newest state backslide into the horrific civil war on 15, December 2013. The 2013 outbreak of violence in South Sudan underscores the importance of a number of factors as critical to stable peace, including conducting a thorough analysis on the structural and triggering factors, the challenges of the IGAD-Led peace process and the role of external actors in peace and conflict dynamics since the onset of the armed conflict. This paper argues that although ethnicity is a contributing factor to the crisis in South Sudan, the characterization of the conflict as an ethnic crisis is insufficient and simplistic, shortsighted and overlooks many of the underlying complexities of conflict dynamics. In addition to this, this paper argues that the problems and challenges that underlie the recent IGAD-Led South Sudan peace process have not been adequately dealt with, despite existing opportunities to address it. Moreover, the researcher strongly argues that when a country is in a state of flux, conflict offers opportunities for external actors to secure, protect or advance their own interests. Therefore, the overall objective of the study is to provide an overview of the relations between the genesis of the conflict, the mediation process and the impact of external actors on the mediated settlements in South Sudan since 2013. To address these issues, the study employed qualitative research methodology. Data was collected from both primary and secondary sources. The primary sources of data collected through key informant interview to make use of its advantage in gaining detailed information about the issue, to examine reflections, understandings and knowledge of informants by offering an in-depth understanding of a particular problem and challenges. To substantiate and supplement the primary data, the thesis also used secondary data collected from books, journal articles, proceedings, newspaper, published and unpublished materials, governmental and non-governmental organization reports and remarks, magazines and other internet sources. Given the data gathered are qualitative, the study employed qualitative data analysis techniques. Key Terms: Conflict, Conflict Resolution, IGAD, Mediation, Regional Dynamics, External Actorsen-USConflict, Conflict Resolution, IGAD, Mediation, Regional Dynamics, External ActorsThesis