Aweil

Aweil is the capital of Northern Bahr el Ghazal (NBeG) State, located in the northwest of South Sudan. The state borders East Darfur (Sudan) to the north, Western Bahr el Ghazal to the west and south, and Warrap and Abyei to the east. The State has an estimated population of 1.92 million. The State is defined by its agro-pastoral economy, with livelihoods centered on cattle rearing, farming, and casual labor. 

In Aweil town and in the payams (districts) near the border with Sudan, extreme weather events (long dry spells and floods) are a source of tension and conflict. Frequent flooding often devastates crops, intensifying economic vulnerability.

Traditionally, the region has also been a source of migrant labor to Darfur and Kordofan regions in Sudan. The Sudan conflict has also resulted in food shortages and inflation, as local markets rely heavily on imports from Sudan. 

Decades of conflict and insecurity within South Sudan and across the border in Darfur/Kordofan have accelerated pre-existing patterns of migration through forced displacement between Aweil and Sudan and elsewhere. Refugees, war-displaced returnees, nomadic cattle keepers, and local families moving seasonally with their animals to source water make Aweil a regional nod for people on the move.

Since the escalation of conflict in Sudan, NBeG has witnessed a steady influx of returnees, particularly in Aweil East and North. Many returnees were previously residing in Sudan and are now dispersed across villages in the region. A small number have also returned there from Uganda, Kenya, and Ethiopia. NBeG also serves as a transit hub for individuals passing through on their way to Warrap and other regions, underscoring the area's strategic importance in managing displacement.

UNHCR figures from February 2025 indicate that among the 131,367 displaced individuals in Northern Bahr El Ghazal State, 15% are refugees, 27% are internally displaced persons (IDPs), and 58% are spontaneous returnees from South Sudan. 

UNHCR, with support from EU-INTPA, has implemented a comprehensive service gap analysis in four areas of high return (Aweil, Torit/Magwi, Raja and Yei/Morobo), to evaluate the current degree of integration of displaced persons in the area, assess infrastructure and service quality and capacity to accommodate more people, and inform area-based planning by government actors, UNHCR and partners.

As part of this project, UNHCR in August 2024 interviewed 824 individuals in Aweil, including returnees, host community members, IDPs, and refugees, including 419 returnees, primarily from Sudan. A majority faced challenges settling in their intended destinations due to land and housing shortages. The return journey was difficult, with 41% of returnees encountering security issues like theft or violence. Despite these challenges, 80.7% of returnees feel physically safe in their current location. Strong community support exists, but hosts benefit more from these networks than returnees, with little conflict reported between the groups.

Shelter and land tenure remain critical challenges for returnees in Northern Bahr el Ghazal (NBeG). While some have received land allocations, the lack of construction materials and financial support severely limits their ability to establish adequate housing. Returnees without land allocations are often left in precarious living conditions, relying on overcrowded host households or makeshift shelters. Even among hosts, many face substandard housing, though their access is generally better. Land disputes compound these issues, with only 31% of returnees holding formal land titles, compared to 61% of host community members. Returnees are also significantly more likely to require assistance in resolving land disputes and securing legal tenure, pointing to systemic barriers that hinder their ability to establish stable, long-term living arrangements.​

Despite generally positive perceptions of security in NBeG, returnees face heightened material and economic vulnerabilities that undermine reintegration. Acute food insecurity affects 62% of the state's population, disproportionately impacting returnees who often arrive with minimal resources and depend heavily on host communities for support. Farming remains the dominant livelihood strategy but is constrained by poor access to tools, seeds, and exposure to climate shocks like floods and droughts. These hardships force many households to adopt negative coping mechanisms such as skipping meals and borrowing food. The Reintegration Sustainability Score (RSS) reflects these disparities clearly: returnees in their place of origin fare significantly better across economic, social, and safety indicators, while those resettling elsewhere struggle to build sustainable lives amidst limited resources and weak support systems.