Understanding national security
National security refers to the comprehensive set of strategies, institutions, laws, and capabilities through which a state protects its people, territory, sovereignty, values, and long-term interests. It is not limited to military defence; rather, it encompasses political stability, economic resilience, internal order, technological protection, and diplomatic engagement. At its core, national security answers two fundamental questions: what a state seeks to protect and why those interests matter.
In a fragile and post-conflict society such as South Sudan, national security is not merely a protective function of the state; it is a decisive force in shaping the country’s future direction—whether toward stability and prosperity or toward repression and collapse.
National security policy: Meaning and purpose
A National Security Policy (NSP) defines the overall security posture, strategic vision, and governing principles of a state. It articulates national ideology, values, mission, and priorities, providing a coherent framework within which all security-related actions operate. While the NSP addresses the “what” and “why”, subsidiary instruments—procedures, standards, and guidelines—define the “how.”
In this sense, the NSP is the heart of the system: a long, medium, and short-term strategic instrument capable of gradually building or destroying society, depending on how it is conceived and implemented.
Information and IT security within national security
Modern national security necessarily includes information security and IT security policies. These policies establish the rules, expectations, and overall approach for safeguarding the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data across government institutions. Security policies exist at multiple levels:
Program (master or organisational) policies
These are high-level, strategic blueprints that guide South Sudan’s national information security programme. They define purpose, scope, governance structures, roles and responsibilities, and compliance mechanisms. Crafted with significant input from senior leadership, they are technology-agnostic and infrequently updated to ensure long-term relevance.
Issue-specific policies
These policies address particular risks or groups and build upon the general security framework by offering more detailed guidance. In South Sudan, however, such policies have at times been abused—used not to protect the nation, but to securitise politics, target specific communities, and weaken social cohesion. When misused, issue-specific policies become instruments of division rather than protection.
Why a national security policy matters
A well-designed National Security Policy is indispensable for at least four reasons:
- Strategic Direction, which defines national priorities and aligns state institutions toward shared objectives.
- Institutional Accountability, which clarifies roles and limits power through law and oversight.
- Social Engineering through Law, which is a tool of national security that can either build inclusive citizenship or entrench repression.
- Continuity and Stability, which provides a consistent framework that survives political and technological change.
Although national security governance often appears bureaucratic, it is in fact a vital foundation of any effective security and information protection programme.
Core Components of National Security
An effective national security strategy integrates multiple dimensions:
- Defence and Territorial Integrity, which deals with maintaining military capability, securing borders, and protecting sovereignty.
- Economic Security, which is ensuring economic stability, food security, and sustainable access to national resources.
- Internal Security, which deals with combating internal threats, maintaining law and order, and ensuring public safety, while guarding against abuse that could transform the state into an absolute police system.
- Diplomatic Security, which deals with managing international relations, alliances, and regional stability to prevent conflict.
Human and Community Security: strengthening institutions, upholding human rights, and building community resilience against political, economic, and humanitarian shocks.
National security and the South Sudanese struggle
In South Sudan, national security has become a contested concept. Citizens do not resist the state because they love conflict or war; they resist because security has too often been weaponised against the people. An anti-people national security policy, one that prioritises regime survival over citizen welfare, destroys communities, weakens institutions, and undermines the legitimacy of the state.
The struggle against the current system is therefore a struggle over the nature of national security itself: whether it will serve as a shield for citizens or as a tool of domination. If an exclusionary and securitised system is allowed to persist, its long-term consequences will be devastating, potentially leading to state failure rather than nation-building.
Conclusion
National security is not neutral. It is a powerful instrument that shapes society, directs national development, and defines the relationship between the state and its citizens. For South Sudan, the future depends on adopting a people-centered National Security Policy, one that strengthens institutions, enforces accountability, protects rights, and empowers communities. Only such a policy can secure not just the state, but the nation itself.
The Writer is a South Sudanese lawyer, politician, academic, and lecturer who serves as a member of the SPLM-IO. His area of interest is Constitutional, Administrative, and Human Rights law. He is currently actively involved in national discourse regarding governance, the rule of law, and tribal reconciliation in South Sudan. He can be reached via email: nhomngekjuol@gmail.com.
