ABSTRACT
Political legitimacy and state’s rights underpin international humanitarian agreements and negotiations. However, this narrow category fails to take into account the anomalies in which statehood is divided among non-state entities like state-supporting paramilitaries or rebels. The international community often overlooks these groups by branding them as terrorists and undemocratic. However, a question arises when some groups willingly sign humanitarian agreements. Namely, why should they do so? I explore this phenomenon with respect to the development of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in the course of its conflict with the Sudanese state and its willingness to abide by international humanitarian standards while doing so.
