Serving a state that couldn’t pay: why South Sudan’s civil servants didn’t quit during the war

In South Sudan, civil servants continued their work through the country's brutal civil war despite the government's inability to pay salaries, driven by a sense of duty and community responsibility. This commitment highlights the complex motivations behind their choice, including a belief in their role in maintaining stability and governance. Their resilience underscores the broader implications for state function and the challenges of maintaining public services in conflict zones, revealing deeper truths about loyalty, survival, and the human cost of war.