Through the story of Chol, LSE’s Naomi Pendle explores the meaning of exile and the lived experience of being a refugee through cycles of displacement and return. In the first article of this two-part series, Pendle tells us how Chol rebuilt home after years spent in exile

Pendle, Naomi

LSE Research Online

Making	Family:	The	Journey	into	Exile	of	a	SouthSudan	Refugee	Part	1	#LSEreturnThrough	the	story	of	Chol,	LSE’s	Naomi	Pendle	explores	the	meaning	of	exile	and	the	lived	experience	of	being	arefugee	through	cycles	of	displacement	and	return.	In	the	first	article	of	this	two-part	series,	Pendle	tells	us	how	Cholrebuilt	home	after	years	spent	in	exile.This	article	is	part	of	our	Displacement	and	Return	series,	which	features	blog	posts	around	the	themesbeing	explored	in	two	Firoz	Lalji	Centre	for	Africa	projects.	Politics	of	Return	is	an	AHRC/ESRC	PaCCs-funded	project	which	explores	the	dynamics	of	return	and	reintegration	of	refugees	in	Central	and	EasternAfrica.	Trajectories	of	Displacement	is	a	multi-disciplinary	exploration	into	return	and	social	repair	aftermass	displacement	in	northern	Uganda,	funded	by	a	ESRC-AHRC	research	grant	from	the	Global	ChallengesResearch	Fund.	Follow	all	updates	on	the	project	on	Twitter	and	Instagram	through	the	hashtag	#LSEreturn.	“It	will	be	a	shame	to	our	family	if	your	wife	dies	here”.Chol	recounted	this	decisive	statement	of	his	uncle	as	Chol	made	the	decision	to	start	his	journey	from	rural	SouthSudan	to	Khartoum	in	2014.[1]		Chol	is	a	research	assistant	on	LSE’s	AHRC	and	ESRC	funded	Politics	of	Returnproject.	He	is	also	a	South	Sudanese	refugee	who	fled	into	exile	in	Sudan	in	2014.		He	previously	lived	in	Khartoumduring	the	wars	of	the	1990s	and	2000s.		His	research	for	the	Politics	of	Return	project	focuses	on	public	authorityand	social	repair	through	Nuer	customary	laws	and	courts	during	cycles	of	displacement.			As	an	introduction	toChol’s	perspective	and	position,	this	blog	tells	the	story	of	Chol’s	formative	journey	into	exile.		It	helps	us	understandwhat	exile	and	being	a	refugee	means	in	his	lived	experience	of	being	a	refugee	and	of	socio-political	status	throughcycles	of	displacement	and	return.Much	research	has	helped	us	understand	the	causes	of	displacement,	the	impact	of	displacement	and	theexperiences	of	resettlement.		At	the	same	time,	a	small,	nascent	literature	also	calls	us	to	pay	attention	to	therefugee	journey	itself	–	the	journey	that	people	take	into	‘exile’	–	and	the	significant	part	this	journey	can	play	in	theactual	process	of	‘becoming’	a	refugee.	This	blog	tells	the	story	of	the	return	journey	into	exile	of	Chol.		Chol’saccount	of	his	journey	from	his	‘home’	village	to	Khartoum	is	not	only	a	process	of	becoming	a	refugee,	but	is	also	aprocess	of	return	and	a	process	of	constituting	himself	as	a	husband	and	father.		He	negotiates	his	socio-politicalstanding	during	his	time	as	a	refugee	through	the	protection	of	his	wife	during	the	journey	into	exile.		His	storyhighlights	that	the	macro	trajectories	of	large	refugee	movements	themselves	intersect	with	people’s	own	personalsocio-political	attempts	to	reconstitute	power	and	relationships.Chol’s	journey	in	2014	from	the	Western	Nuer	village	of	Rubkuany	to	Khartoum	was	not	only	a	journey	into	exile	inSudan;	it	was	the	process	by	which	he	became	a	‘refugee’	for	the	first	time.		Chol	was	returning	to	familiar	places	ofsafety	where	he	had	lived	before.		However,	since	his	departure,	South	Sudan	had	become	a	separate	nation	stateand	his	movement	was	now	as	a	refugee.		However,	in	the	politics	of	daily	life,	during	his	journey	he	also	became	ahusband	and	father,	gaining	networks	among	other	Western	Nuer.		It	is	these	networks	that	were	safety	andauthority	for	Chol.Chol’s	HistoryChol	had	lived	in	Khartoum	before.		The	first	time	he	lived	there	he	was	not	a	refugee	as	the	South	was	then	still	partof	a	united	Sudan.		Chol	was	originally	born	in	his	ancestral	homelands	in	the	Western	Nuer	(Southern	Sudan).		Inthe	1970s,	the	first	oilfields	were	discovered	at	Tharjath,	just	north	of	Chol’s	homeland.		From	1983,	the	SudanPeople’s	Liberation	Army	launched	a	rebellion	against	the	Sudan	army.		Southerners	both	supported	and	foughtagainst	the	SPLA.		The	discovery	of	oilfields	in	the	Western	Nuer	made	Chol’s	homeland	of	strategic	nationalimportance	and	it	became	an	epicenter	of	the	wars	of	the	1980s	and	1990s.		This	context	eventually	prompted	Cholto	move	to	Khartoum.		It	was	in	settlements	on	the	edge	of	this	national	capital	that	Chol	completed	his	primary	andsecondary	education.		It	was	there	that	he	grew	up.		He	eventually	enrolled	at	the	University	of	Bahr	al-Ghazal.		TheUniversity	of	Bahr	al-Ghazal	had	been	based	in	the	large,	Southern	city	of	Wau.		However,	by	Chol’s	enrollment,because	of	the	SPLA	war,	the	university	was	based	at	a	temporary	campus	in	Khartoum.Africa at LSE: Making Family: The Journey into Exile of a South Sudan Refugee Part 1 #LSEreturn Page 1 of 3		Date originally posted: 2018-01-15Permalink: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/africaatlse/2018/01/15/making-family-the-journey-into-exile-of-a-south-sudan-refugee-part-1-lsereturn/Blog homepage: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/africaatlse/In	2005,	the	SPLA	signed	a	peace	agreement	with	the	Sudan	government.		This	agreement	promised	a	referendumon	Southern	succession	in	2011.		As	the	referendum	date	approached,	the	independence	of	South	Sudan	appearedincreasingly	likely.		Many	Southerners	in	the	north	chose	to	return	to	the	South	both	to	return	‘home’,	but	also	toavoid	the	uncertainty	surrounding	their	citizenship	status	in	the	north	if	Southern	independence	was	granted.With	the	new	peace	in	the	south,	faculties	of	Southern	universities	also	started	to	return	to	their	original	campuses	inthe	Southern	cities	of	Juba,	Wau	and	Malakal.		Suddenly	these	university	campuses	started	to	return	to	life,	anddecaying	buildings	were	swamped	with	students,	lecturers	and	tea	ladies.I	met	Chol	when	he	was	studying	and	I	was	teaching	at	the	University	of	Bahr	al-Ghazal.		His	course	in	developmenteconomics	was	transferred	from	Khartoum	to	Wau	during	his	studies.		English	was	the	new	language	of	tuition.		ForChol,	Wau	was	unfamiliar,	alien	and	far	from	social	networks	that	he	could	draw	upon.		Yet,	over-crowded	dorms	anda	diverse	student	body	forced	new	networks	of	friendship.		Chol	had	returned	to	South	Sudan	as	a	relatively,	highlyeducated	man.		After	graduation,	Chol	moved	back	to	the	Western	Nuer	to	teach	at	a	secondary	school	in	Ler.		Itwas	named	after	Emma	–	the	then	Vice	President’s	late,	English	wife.		It	was	his	education	that	had	defined	hisjourney	back	to	South	Sudan	and	the	opportunities	he	had	to	make	home.As	with	many	men	who	came	back	to	South	Sudan,	Chol	rebuilt	‘home’	through	marriage	and	the	starting	of	his	ownfamily.[2]		Coming	‘home’	to	the	unfamiliar	lands	of	South	Sudan	were	intricately	bound	with	him	becoming	a	manand	having	a	home	of	his	own.Chol’s	home	in	Ler	Image	Credit:	Naomi	PendleThe	post	2005	era	of	peace	was	defined	by	a	new	burst	of	enthusiasm	for	Southern	development	and	state	building.	In	the	Western	Nuer,	a	new,	large	marrum	road	was	the	apex	of	this	peacetime	development.		The	government	withthe	help	of	Chinese	companies	built	a	long,	marrum	road	that	stretched	from	the	regional	headquarters	of	Bentiu	tothe	south.		In	an	almost	straight	north-south	line,	it	passed	the	Tharjath	oilfields	and	then	continued	without	deviationtowards	to	the	southern,	Dinka	town	of	Rumbek.About	halfway	south	along	this	road,	another	marrum	road	led	off	to	the	east.		This	led	to	Ler	and	the	local	port	ofAdok.		At	this	junction	in	the	road	was	the	thriving	market	village	of	Rubkuany.		Many	of	the	small	shops	had	iron-sheeted	roofs.		A	generator	lit	the	market	at	night	through	a	hazardous	web	of	wires	that	sat	on	the	wet	mud	of	theclay	soil.I	met	Chol	again	one	evening	in	early	2013	in	this	busy,	road-side	village.		It	had	been	two	years	since	hisgraduation.		Chol	led	me	to	a	small	thatched,	mud	hut	on	the	opposite	side	of	the	crossroad,	at	a	distance	from	themarket.	The	tukal	looked	oddly	isolated,	with	no	neighbours,	fence	or	surrounding	garden.		Yet,	Chol	led	me	to	thisnew	home	with	pride.		Inside,	sitting	on	their	bed,	was	Chol’s	new	wife	and	tiny,	few-month-old	child.		He	talked	offinally	having	a	‘home’.		They	had	married	the	year	before.Africa at LSE: Making Family: The Journey into Exile of a South Sudan Refugee Part 1 #LSEreturn Page 2 of 3		Date originally posted: 2018-01-15Permalink: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/africaatlse/2018/01/15/making-family-the-journey-into-exile-of-a-south-sudan-refugee-part-1-lsereturn/Blog homepage: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/africaatlse/Chol’s	marriage	was	of	particular	pride	to	his	family	and	its	details	cemented	Chol’s	belonging	in	the	socio-politicalnetworks	of	the	Western	Nuer.		Many	of	Chol’s	former	classmates	from	his	childhood	in	the	Western	Nuer	had	goneon	to	be	significant	political	and	military	leaders	in	various	sides	in	South	Sudan’s	civil	wars.		Many	of	them	had	notlived	in	Khartoum	but	had	fought	as	soldiers	in	the	wars.		They	had	the	authority	and	then	wealth	that	accompanied	ahistory	of	military	service.		They	now	had	titles,	honours	and	access	to	government	revenues	that	Chol	did	not	have.	However,	the	way	Chol	won	his	wife	allowed	him	to	reclaim	his	sense	of	status	among	his	peers.When	Chol	fell	in	love	with	his	wife,	a	local	MP	was	also	competing	for	her	affections	and	had	offered	her	parents	alarge	number	of	cattle	for	her	bride	wealth.		As	an	MP	in	2012	in	South	Sudan,	he	had	access	to	government	fundsthat	were	sourced	from	the	oil	revenues	of	government.		However,	Chol’s	large	family	each	contributed	smallnumbers	of	cattle	so	that	Chol	could	offer	a	competing	bride	price.		Chol’s	family	also	carefully	petitioned	the	wife’sfamily	with	pledges	of	care	for	their	daughter.		The	competition	over	this	girl	became	the	talk	of	the	town	for	weeks.	Eventually,	the	girl’s	parents	were	persuaded	by	Chol’s	family’s	offer	and	she	was	given	to	Chol	to	marry.For	Chol’s	whole	family,	Chol’s	wife’s	care	was	now	intimately	linked	to	their	family’s	reputation	and	integrity.		Hersafety	and	that	of	her	children	was	an	indicator	of	Chol’s	own	ability,	trustworthiness	and	belonging	in	the	WesternNuer.In	part	2	of	this	article,	find	out	how	Chol’s	flight	into	exile	was	intricately	linked	to	him	proving	himself	atrustworthy	husband	and	father.Dr	Naomi	Pendle	is	a	Research	Officer	at	the	Firoz	Lalji	Centre	for	Africa.	The	views	expressed	in	this	post	are	those	of	the	author	and	in	no	way	reflect	those	of	the	Africa	at	LSE	blogor	the	London	School	of	Economics	and	Political	Science.	[1]	Chol	is	not	the	research	assistant’s	real	name.		He	prefers	to	be	called	by	this	nickname.			Africa at LSE: Making Family: The Journey into Exile of a South Sudan Refugee Part 1 #LSEreturn Page 3 of 3		Date originally posted: 2018-01-15Permalink: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/africaatlse/2018/01/15/making-family-the-journey-into-exile-of-a-south-sudan-refugee-part-1-lsereturn/Blog homepage: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/africaatlse/

Making family: the journey into exile of a South Sudan refugee part 1 #LSEreturn

Through the story of Chol, LSE’s Naomi Pendle explores the meaning of exile and the lived experience of being a refugee through cycles of displacement and return. In the first article of this two-part series, Pendle tells us how Chol rebuilt home after years spent in exile. Now, LSE’s Naomi Pendle narrates Chol’s return into exile, a journey that was in itself a return and cemented his ability to build a family

Making	Family:	The	Journey	into	Exile	of	a	SouthSudan	Refugee	–	Part	2	#LSEreturnThrough	the	story	of	Chol,	LSE’s	Naomi	Pendle	explores	the	meaning	of	exile	and	the	lived	experience	of	being	arefugee	through	cycles	of	displacement	and	return.	In	the	first	article	of	this	two-part	series,	Pendle	tells	us	how	Cholrebuilt	home	after	years	spent	in	exile.	Now,	LSE’s	Naomi	Pendle	narrates	Chol’s	return	into	exile,	a	journey	that	wasin	itself	a	return	and	cemented	his	ability	to	build	a	family.Read	Part	One	of	this	articleThis	article	is	part	of	our	Displacement	and	Return	series,	which	features	blog	posts	around	the	themesbeing	explored	in	two	Firoz	Lalji	Centre	for	Africa	projects.	Politics	of	Return	is	an	AHRC/ESRC	PaCCs-funded	project	which	explores	the	dynamics	of	return	and	reintegration	of	refugees	in	Central	and	EasternAfrica.	Trajectories	of	Displacement	is	a	multi-disciplinary	exploration	into	return	and	social	repair	aftermass	displacement	in	northern	Uganda,	funded	by	a	ESRC-AHRC	research	grant	from	the	Global	ChallengesResearch	Fund.	Follow	all	updates	on	the	project	on	Twitter	and	Instagram	through	the	hashtag	#LSEreturn.	Chol’s	JourneyChol’s	account	of	his	journey	into	exile	and	being	a	refugee	starts	with	his	family.		In	December	2013,	fightingbetween	the	SPLA	in	Juba	(South	Sudan’s	capital	city)	and	subsequent	battles	through	the	capital	prompted	waracross	South	Sudan.		Bentiu,	the	regional	headquarters	of	the	Western	Nuer,	erupted	into	violence	within	a	week.	Slowly,	the	war	spread	south	along	the	marrum	road	towards	Rubkuany.		The	government’s	heavy	vehicles	neededthe	road	to	move	south.		The	war	reached	Rubkuany	by	March	2014	and	Chol’s	‘home’	tukal	was	instantlydestroyed.		At	the	time,	his	wife	was	still	breastfeeding	their	first	son.Chol	and	his	family	fled	to	the	swamps,	but	they	did	not	immediately	leave	this	rural	area	of	the	Western	Nuer.		Yet,in	the	mosquito-riddled,	waterlogged	swamps,	Chol’s	wife	became	increasingly	ill.		The	journey	started	with	familydebates	and	deliberations	that	focused	on	Chol’s	wife’s	health.		There	were	no	medical	facilities	in	the	swamps	of	theWestern	Nuer	and	the	nearest	accessible	health	facilities	were	to	the	north	in	Bentiu	town.“It	will	be	a	shame	to	our	family	if	your	wife	dies	here”.The	family	agreed	to	let	Chol,	his	wife	and	their	child	travel	to	Bentiu	to	seek	health	care.		They	feared	that	if	the	wifedied	of	ill	health	her	family	and	the	community	would	be	able	to	accuse	them	of	neglect,	especially	as	their	marriagehad	had	such	a	high	profile.		Yet,	they	knew	that	the	journey	would	be	fraught	with	dangers	and	force	them	to	weavebetween	government	and	rebel	held	territories.Chol	had	been	classmates	with	the	then	government	commissioner.		As	they	crossed	from	rebel	to	government-heldterritories,	Chol	sought	safety	in	these	networks	of	friendship.		These	networks	spanned	across	political	divides.		Heimmediately	approached	the	commissioner	to	ask	for	safety	and	for	his	help	in	the	journey	to	Bentiu.		Thecommissioner	allowed	them	to	travel	by	car	to	this	regional	capital.		There	they	could	receive	treatment	for	his	wifeand	stay	in	his	in-laws’	empty	house	in	the	city.		The	city	was	government	controlled	and	largely	empty	of	civilians;most	people	now	preferred	to	live	in	the	UN	Protection	of	Civilian	site	(PoC)	in	Bentiu.		This	fenced	city	that	waspatrolled	by	UN	peacekeepers	had	opened	in	December	2013	to	protect	civilians.		It	would	itself	become	the	secondbiggest	city	in	South	Sudan.The	journey	to	being	an	IDPHowever,	their	journey	of	displacement	was	only	beginning.		It	was	April	2014	by	the	time	they	had	reached	thequasi-deserted	Bentiu	town.		They	made	it	to	the	city	just	ahead	of	a	large	rebel	offensive	to	recapture	Bentiu	townfrom	government	control.		This	offensive	would	gain	international	attention	for	the	alleged	massacre	of	civilians	in	theBentiu	mosque.Africa at LSE: Making Family: The Journey into Exile of a South Sudan Refugee – Part 2 #LSEreturn Page 1 of 3		Date originally posted: 2018-01-16Permalink: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/africaatlse/2018/01/16/making-family-the-journey-into-exile-of-a-south-sudan-refugee-part-2-lsereturn/Blog homepage: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/africaatlse/In	advance	of	the	attack,	the	SPLA-IO	commander	James	Koang	announced	from	Heglig,	via	Bentiu	Town	Radio,that	an	attack	was	imminent.		He	encouraged	civilians	to	flee	to	the	POC	for	safety	and	that	those	who	remained	inthe	town	would	be	assumed	to	be	government	soldiers.		Chol	and	his	family	tried	to	leave.		However,	the	governmentwould	not	let	people	go	to	the	PoC.		So	instead	they	ran	to	hide	by	the	river.		They	listened	from	nearby	as	the	townwas	captured	by	the	rebel	forces	and	then	capture	again	by	the	government.		When	the	guns	went	quiet	that	night,they	returned	home.In	their	absence,	rebel	soldiers	had	used	their	empty	house	as	a	store	for	looted	goods	that	they	had	raided	from	themarkets.		They	had	hoped	to	return,	but	had	now	been	expelled	from	the	city	by	government	forces.		As	Choldescribed,	“That	evening	we	feasted.		I	can	never	normally	afford	to	buy	juice	or	coke	or	Fanta.		We	could	hearshelling	outside,	but	inside	we	could	just	drink	as	much	juice	as	we	wanted.		It	kept	flowing.		We	could	not	drinkenough.		I	could	not	get	to	a	borehole	to	fetch	water	to	wash	the	baby.		So	we	even	used	bottled	water	to	wash.”Yet,	there	was	no	safety	in	Bentiu	town,	so	we	moved	to	the	PoC.In	the	PoC,	there	was	also	no	certainty	of	safety.		The	journey	had	not	ended.So	Chol’s	journey	continued	to	the	north,	back	to	where	he	had	previously	sought	refuge	in	the	1990s.		Other	peoplein	the	PoC	either	stayed,	or	if	they	could	afford	it,	they	traveled	to	Juba	or	even	to	Kakuma	Refugee	Camp	in	EastAfrica.		Many	chose	to	return	to	places	they	had	lived	before.			Chol	had	long	been	a	Southerner	in	the	north,	and	heknew	he	could	belong	there.Chol	decided	for	his	family	that	they	should	seek	to	travel	to	Sudan.		He	wanted	to	return	to	Sudan	and	to	thatfamiliar	place	of	safety.		His	displacement	was	also	to	be	a	process	of	return.		Yet,	this	time,	Chol	made	the	decisionalone.		He	feared	others	would	advise	against	this	journey	as	people	had	already	tried	to	reach	Khartoum	and	not	allhad	been	safe.		Animals	had	eaten	some	people.		Soldiers	had	shot	others.		Some	had	been	safe.The	escape	to	the	Sudanese	border	was	facilitated	by	businessmen	in	the	PoC	who	had	knowledge	of	the	paths	tothe	north.		They	would	sell	their	service	as	a	guide	for	a	fee.		Only	because	Chol	still	had	a	small	amount	of	moneyleft	could	he	afford	their	escape.They	left	the	PoC	as	night	fell	and	so	their	departure	could	be	hidden.	They	climbed	over	the	dug	barriers	andtrenches	that	were	designed	to	protect	the	PoC	residents	from	the	dangers	beyond.		They	threw	their	bags	andpassed	their	baby	to	others	as	they	struggled	and	swam	through	the	floodwaters	in	the	trenches.		Beyond	the	fence,they	met	their	guide.		About	thirty	people	from	the	PoC	each	paid	50	South	Sudan	Pounds	to	be	led	to	the	Sudaneseborder.		They	were	instructed	to	move	silently	in	a	single	file	line	through	the	darkness	of	night.Africa at LSE: Making Family: The Journey into Exile of a South Sudan Refugee – Part 2 #LSEreturn Page 2 of 3		Date originally posted: 2018-01-16Permalink: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/africaatlse/2018/01/16/making-family-the-journey-into-exile-of-a-south-sudan-refugee-part-2-lsereturn/Blog homepage: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/africaatlse/Yet,	that	night	their	guide	had	been	drinking	and	he	mistook	the	route	ahead.		He	led	them	too	close	to	the	base	ofthe	Darfuree	soldiers	who	were	fighting	for	the	government	forces.		“We	almost	fell	into	their	ambush	and	had	tosilently	retreat	for	miles.		Because	of	the	mistaken	route,	a	journey	that	should	take	a	day	took	over	two	days.		Wehad	no	water	and	only	biscuits	for	the	children.”“Then	you	reach	the	Sudanese	road	and	you	are	safe.		There	are	traders	with	water	and	biscuits.		It	is	their	businessand	they	make	money.		But	they	are	good	as	they	kept	us	alive	that	day.		They	will	pick	you	up	and	help	you.		Youare	tired	and	can	barely	walk.		They	put	you	on	their	bikes.		They	don’t	charge	you,	but	for	their	service	you	pickthem	to	exchange	currency	with.”For	Chol,	the	moment	of	safety	came	with	the	moment	of	crossing	into	the	lands	where	Sudanese	traders	safelyoperated.		Safety	for	Chol	was	the	return	to	northern	Sudan	and	the	familiar	values	of	business.		The	making	ofmoney	has	its	own	logic	and	safety	away	from	the	dangers	and	unpredictability	of	his	homelands.From	here,	Chol	and	his	family	paid	to	travel	by	vehicle	to	Khartoum.Crucially	for	Chol,	this	journey	reinforced	his	identity	as	a	father	and	husband.		By	protecting	this	wife	and	son,	andthen	managing	to	bring	them	safely	to	Khartoum,	his	ability	to	care	for	his	family	was	affirmed.The	story	of	his	journey	ends	with	his	arrival	at	his	in-laws’	house	in	Khartoum.		It	ends	when	he	delivers	his	wife	andson	safely	to	her	parents.		He	had	proved	to	his	in-laws	that	he	could	safely	return	their	daughter	to	Khartoum	andthat	he	was	the	right	husband	to	entrust	their	daughter	to.		In	those	first	few	nights	in	Khartoum,	his	wife	stayed	withher	parents	to	rest	and	get	better.		Chol	complied	with	Nuer	custom	and	did	not	stay	in	the	same	house	as	his	in-laws.		Instead,	he	stayed	nearby,	with	a	Sudanese	trader	for	whom	he	had	used	to	work.		After	this,	his	son	stayedwith	his	in-laws	as	is	the	norm	in	Nuer	families	as	a	child	is	weaned.		His	in-laws	fully	accepted	the	marriage	and	theson	that	they	had	produced.As	is	the	case	for	many	South	Sudanese,	Chol’s	current	flight	to	safety	outside	of	South	Sudan	has	not	taken	him	tosomewhere	unfamiliar.		He	had	returned	to	friends,	neighbours	and	families	that	are	no	less	familiar	than	his	‘home’in	South	Sudan	itself.			For	Chol,	his	flight	into	exile	also	helped	him	cement	his	own	family	with	his	wife	and	child;even	if	now	in	Sudan,	they	were	his	‘home’.		It	was	these	networks,	as	much	as	a	journey	to	a	safe	space,	that	hesought	to	cement	as	safety	for	himself,	his	wife	and	his	son.Find	out	more	about	the	Politics	of	Return	research	project.Dr	Naomi	Pendle	is	a	Research	Officer	at	the	Firoz	Lalji	Centre	for	Africa.	The	views	expressed	in	this	post	are	those	of	the	author	and	in	no	way	reflect	those	of	the	Africa	at	LSEblog,	the	Firoz	Lalji	Centre	for	Africa	or	the	London	School	of	Economics	and	Political	Science.Africa at LSE: Making Family: The Journey into Exile of a South Sudan Refugee – Part 2 #LSEreturn Page 3 of 3		Date originally posted: 2018-01-16Permalink: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/africaatlse/2018/01/16/making-family-the-journey-into-exile-of-a-south-sudan-refugee-part-2-lsereturn/Blog homepage: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/africaatlse/

Making family: the journey into exile of a South Sudan refugee - part 2 #LSEreturn

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Making family: the journey into exile of a South Sudan refugee part 1 #LSEreturn

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