The article explores why civil servants in South Sudan remained in their jobs despite economic collapse, unpaid salaries, and ongoing conflict.During the 2013-2018 civil war, the government faced bankruptcy, hyperinflation, and a near-total collapse of oil exports—their main revenue source.Salaries were delayed for months or years, with wages losing nearly 90% of their value against the US dollar.Despite these challenges, many civil servants chose to stay due to social status, access to networks, and the absence of viable alternatives.Their jobs provided a sense of normality amid political upheaval and offered opportunities like NGO trainings or informal support systems.The study highlights how material, social, and political factors shaped their loyalty to a state that couldn't pay.

Even after the 2018 peace agreement, South Sudan remains trapped in economic and political crises, with civil servants continuing to imagine a functioning state as a future goal.