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| Republic of South Sudan | |
|---|---|
| Conventional long name | Republic of South Sudan |
| Common name | South Sudan |
| Capital | Juba |
| Largest city | Juba |
| Official languages | English |
| Recognized languages | Arabic |
| Government type | Presidential republic |
| Independence | 9 July 2011 |
| Area km2 | 619745 |
| Population estimate | 11 million (approx.) |
| Currency | South Sudanese pound |
Republic of South Sudan is a landlocked country in East-Central Africa that gained independence in 2011 after a long struggle involving the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and the Second Sudanese Civil War, with major international engagement from the African Union, the United Nations, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development. The country’s capital, Juba, is a focal point for regional diplomacy involving neighboring states such as Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, and Sudan, while major global actors including the United States, China, and the European Union have played roles in mediation, development, and resource investment.
The territory experienced precolonial dynamics with Nilotic and Nilo-Saharan groups alongside influences from the Ottoman Empire, the Mahdist State, and the Turco-Egyptian administration before incorporation into the Anglo-Egyptian Condominium, leading to colonial policies shaped by the British and interactions with missionaries such as those from the Church Missionary Society and the Roman Catholic Church. Twentieth-century history saw the First Sudanese Civil War and the Addis Ababa Agreement, followed by the discovery of oil that intensified tensions culminating in the Second Sudanese Civil War involving the Sudan People's Liberation Army, key figures linked to the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and the 2011 referendum that established independence. Post-independence years have been marked by internal political contestation featuring leaders and factions, power-sharing accords like the 2018 Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan, and international mediation led by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the African Union, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, and bilateral partners such as the United States and China.
The country occupies parts of the Nile basin with major waterways including the White Nile and Bahr el Ghazal river systems and ecological zones ranging from Sudd wetlands to savanna and floodplains noted in studies by conservation organizations such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the World Wide Fund for Nature; its terrain includes the Imatong Mountains near the Uganda border and extends toward the Sobat River and the Bahr el Jebel. Environmental concerns involve seasonal flooding, drought cycles influenced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the Nile Basin Initiative, biodiversity in protected areas monitored by the United Nations Environment Programme, and land use pressures associated with oil fields operated historically by companies like Shell and other international energy firms.
Political life centers in Juba with institutions derived from the Transitional Constitution and structures affected by the South Sudan National Legislative Assembly and the executive led by the presidency, shaped by parties such as the Sudan People's Liberation Movement and opposition groups. Power-sharing frameworks have involved signatories to the Revitalised Agreement, mediation by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, and engagement from the African Union Commission and United Nations Security Council resolutions directing the United Nations Mission in South Sudan. Regional diplomacy includes relationships with Khartoum and multilateral initiatives like the East African Community and the African Development Bank, while domestic political cleavages have prompted international sanctions by entities such as the United States Department of the Treasury and targeted measures from the European Union.
The economy centers on petroleum production discovered in the Muglad and Melut basins with infrastructure linked to export pipelines through Port Sudan and economic ties to national oil companies and international firms; fiscal policy and reconstruction financing involve institutions such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the African Development Bank. Agriculture, livestock herding, and informal trade with markets in Uganda and Kenya remain critical to livelihoods while currency and inflation have been addressed through central bank operations and donor-supported stabilization programs from the United Nations Development Programme and bilateral donors. Development challenges include rebuilding infrastructure damaged during conflict, attracting foreign direct investment, negotiating oil revenue arrangements with Khartoum, and implementing projects supported by organizations such as the United Nations Office for Project Services.
The population comprises diverse ethnic groups including the Dinka, Nuer, Shilluk, and numerous Nilotic and Central Sudanic peoples with social organization influenced by customary authorities, traditional chiefs, and community leaders engaged in local dispute resolution mechanisms often referenced by humanitarian agencies like the International Committee of the Red Cross. Public health and social indicators have been the focus of interventions by the World Health Organization, Médecins Sans Frontières, UNICEF, and national health ministries addressing communicable disease outbreaks, maternal-child health, and malnutrition exacerbated by conflict and displacement. Educational rebuilding involves partnerships with UNESCO, nongovernmental organizations, and local institutions to address literacy, school access, and vocational training.
Cultural life reflects Dinka and Nuer traditions, Ruweng and Other Nilotic customs, and influences from Christian denominations such as Roman Catholicism and various Protestant churches alongside Muslim communities, with festivals, cattle-centered rites, and oral literature preserved by cultural organizations and researchers from universities and institutes. English serves as the official language while Juba Arabic, Dinka, Nuer, Bari, Zande, Shilluk, and other indigenous languages are widely spoken, and cultural preservation efforts have involved museums, the British Museum collaborations, and academic studies in anthropology and ethnomusicology.
Transport networks focus on riverine navigation of the White Nile, road corridors linking Juba with Nimule and connections to Uganda, and limited air services through Juba International Airport with assistance from the International Civil Aviation Organization; infrastructure reconstruction projects have been supported by the World Bank, African Development Bank, and international contractors. Utilities and service provision, including electrification, water supply, and telecommunications, are areas of ongoing development with involvement from multinational firms, donor agencies, and nongovernmental organizations addressing rural water schemes, renewable energy pilots, and expansion of mobile networks.
Security dynamics have included ceasefire monitoring, disarmament efforts, and peacekeeping by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan alongside regional initiatives under the African Union and Intergovernmental Authority on Development; armed clashes, cattle raiding, and intercommunal violence have driven large-scale displacement monitored by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organization for Migration. Humanitarian responses coordinated through OCHA, the Red Cross Movement, and NGOs such as Médecins Sans Frontières and Save the Children address food insecurity, refugee protection, and recovery programs amid sanctions, human rights investigations by the United Nations Human Rights Council, and accountability measures pursued by international tribunals and donor governments.
Category:States and territories established in 2011 Category:Countries in Africa