As of July 14th, the world recognized South Sudan as Africa’s newest country when the United Nations General Assembly unanimously voted to address this country as it’s 193rd member. On this day, many rejoiced the formal declaration of independence from Sudan as the final outcome of the peace deal drawn in 2005, which ended the longest-running civil war in African history. At midnight on July 9th local time, South Sudan became an independent state after a referendum held in January yielded a result of nearly 99% of voters opting for independence from the rest of Sudan.
This nation’s official name is “The Republic of South Sudan” and the capital and largest city is Juba. South Sudan is formed from ten of the southern-most states that were originally part of Sudan. The population of South Sudan consists of approximately six million, of which the majority practice indigenous religious beliefs with a large minority practicing Christianity (unlike the predominantly Muslim population in Sudan). The diversity within the population is very high both linguistically and ethnically, though the largest of the ethnic groups are the Dinka, Nuer and Shilluk.
The total area inside the South Sudanese borders is 619,745km2 with the majority comprised of grasslands, swamp and tropical rainforest along both sides of the While Nile. The formal government system in South Sudan is a “federal presidential democratic republic” of which Salva Kiir Mayardit is the country’s first elected president. The economic condition of this country is fragile at best due to the non-existent infrastructure, high mortality and illiteracy rates and adverse poverty as a result of the long-running civil wars following Sudan’s independence from British rule in 1956. Due to Sudan’s attempt to establish an Islamic identity following independence, the southern authority figures in the area mutinied, beginning a civil war between the Sudanese government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and its own army forces. Before autonomy following the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, at least 1.5 million people have lost their lives while 4 million others were displaced to neighbouring regions in the crossfire.
The humanitarian situation in South Sudan is dismal with a high mortality rate of 112 per 1000 and a maternal mortality rate of 2054 per 100,000 live births. The health care in South Sudan is essentially three surgeons serving the entire nation and, in some regions, one doctor for every 500,000 people. The prevalent livelihood of South Sudan’s citizens are mainly subsistence agriculture. The region internationally exports timber, petroleum, silver, gold, copper and other such natural resources; however, given the country’s condition, South Sudan is still heavily dependent on agriculture. It is important to note that South Sudan is an oil-rich state and South Sudan and Sudan are, as of now, splitting oil revenues in half between them.
The country’s most significant success in recent years to sustain life and prosperity in the nation was to develop an integrated system for planning and budget preparation headed by strong leadership within the Ministry of Finance. Since then, the government has been able to better manage the finances of various projects and have increased the number of government staffers with crucial skills like basic IT.
While South Sudan had finally gained independence from Sudanese rule, the next couple of years will indicate the future progress of this infant country and, ultimately, the survival of this nation. With some strong leadership and a firm rule, it may yet be possible for this region and its people to rise above the struggles that have plagued it for so long.