South Sudan

South Sudan, officially the Republic of South Sudan, is a landlocked country in East Africa. It shares borders with Sudan to the north, Ethiopia to the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the southwest, Uganda to the south, Kenya to the southeast, and the Central African Republic to the west. The land has plains, plateaus, savannahs, and the important Nile River system, which runs through a large swamp area called the Sudd. Juba, the capital and largest city, is home to many of South Sudan's people.

South Sudan became independent on July 9, 2011, after a vote where most people chose to split from Sudan. This followed long periods of conflict. Despite its short history as a nation, South Sudan faces many challenges, including rebuilding and working to improve life for its people.

The population of South Sudan has many different ethnic groups, mostly from the Nilotic peoples. The country is very young, with about half of all people under 18 years old. Most people practice Christianity or traditional beliefs, with some following Islam. South Sudan is one of the least developed countries in the world, but it is working toward growth and development as a member of international groups such as the United Nations, African Union, and East African Community.

Etymology

The name Sudan refers to a region south of the Sahara. It stretches from Western Africa to eastern Central Africa. The word comes from an Arabic phrase, bilād as-sūdān, which means "Land of the Blacks". Arab traders, historians, and geographers were the first to use this term.

History

Main article: History of South Sudan

The Nilotic people of South Sudan—the Dinka, Anyuak, Bari, Acholi, Nuer, Shilluk, Kaligi (Arabic Feroghe), and others—lived in South Sudan long ago. Many groups moved to their current homes between the 15th and 19th centuries. The Zande, Mundu, Avukaya and Baka also came and formed a large state.

During British rule, the south did not get many schools, hospitals, or roads. After Sudan became independent in 1958, there were uprisings and civil wars. Many people suffered because of this.

In 2011, people voted to decide if South Sudan should be its own country. Most voted yes, and South Sudan became independent on July 9, 2011. It joined the United Nations soon after. However, there were still fights over land and between different groups.

In 2013, a disagreement between leaders led to more fighting. Many people had to leave their homes. A peace agreement was made in 2015, but fighting continued. In 2020, leaders agreed to work together again, but some violence still happened.

South Sudan joined the East Africa Community in 2016. Elections planned for 2023 were delayed until December 2026. In 2025 and 2026, fighting started again, causing more problems for people living there.

Geography

Main article: Geography of South Sudan

South Sudan is a country between 13°N and 24°E. It has tropical forests, swamps, and grasslands. The White Nile flows through the land, passing the city of Juba. The Sudd, formed by the river, is also called the Bahr al Jabal, or "Mountain Sea".

The country has many parks with wild animals. Bandingilo National Park is home to big animal migrations. Other parks like Boma National Park, the Sudd wetland, and Southern National Park have animals such as hartebeest, kob, topi, buffalo, elephants, giraffes, and lions. These parks also have many other creatures, including bongo, giant forest hogs, red river hogs, forest elephants, chimpanzees, and monkeys.

South Sudan has a tropical climate. It rains from May to October, and the rest of the year is drier. Temperatures stay warm, between about 20°C and 37°C. The land has grasslands, savannas, floodplains, and wetlands, all home to many animals.

Government and politics

Main articles: Government of South Sudan and Politics of South Sudan

The government of South Sudan has a presidential system. The president is the head of state and the head of government. The National Legislature has two parts: the National Legislative Assembly and the Council of States.

The capital city is Juba, but there are plans to move it to a new city called Ramciel. South Sudan has ten states. These states are in three areas: Bahr el Ghazal, Equatoria, and Greater Upper Nile. South Sudan works with many countries and is part of the United Nations and the African Union.

Economy

Main article: Economy of South Sudan

See also: List of companies based in South Sudan

The economy of South Sudan is one of the least developed in the world. It has very little infrastructure. The country exports timber and has many natural resources, including petroleum, iron ore, and copper. Its economy relies heavily on agriculture.

The oilfields in South Sudan have been very important since the late 20th century. Today, oil makes up more than 90% of the country's income. After South Sudan became independent in 2011, there were challenges in sharing oil revenue with Sudan. The country has large oil reserves, but relies on Sudan's pipelines and facilities to transport the oil. This led to disputes. In 2017, South Sudan started its first company to drill for oil.

South Sudan also faces serious economic problems, such as high inflation. The country is working to join the East African Community to improve trade and infrastructure. However, progress has been slow due to ongoing conflicts and economic challenges.

Main article: Transport in South Sudan

Road transport is the most common way to travel in South Sudan. The Nile River is also important for moving goods by water. There is a small railway network and several airports, with Juba Airport being the busiest, offering flights to nearby countries.

Main article: Food insecurity and famine in South Sudan

Since becoming independent in 2011, South Sudan has often faced food shortages. The civil war that started in 2013 made the situation much worse, disrupting farming and displacing many people. Even with help from aid groups, many people still struggle to get enough food.

Further information: Water supply in South Sudan

See also: Sudanese nomadic conflicts

South Sudan has trouble providing clean water to its people. Although the White Nile flows through the country, many areas run out of water during the dry season. About half the population does not have access to safe drinking water. Many groups are working to help improve water supply.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of South Sudan

See also: List of cities in South Sudan

South Sudan has about 11 million people. The country has had many years of war. This has caused big problems like destroying homes and forcing families to leave. Many people had to find new places to live.

The main groups of people in South Sudan are the Dinka, Nuer, Azande, Shilluk, and Bari. There are also around 800,000 people from the Horn of Africa living there. South Sudan has seventy languages. English is the official language. Other common languages are Nuer, Bari, Dinka, and Zande.

Religion in South Sudan varies, with many people practicing Christianity. Others follow traditional beliefs or Islam. Schools in South Sudan use an 8 + 4 + 4 system, and teach in English. But there are not enough teachers, especially for science and technical subjects.

Culture

Main article: Culture of South Sudan

See also: Tourism in South Sudan

South Sudan's culture has been influenced by its neighbors because of many years of conflict. Many South Sudanese people moved to countries like Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda, where they learned new languages and customs. Those who stayed often adopted parts of Sudanese culture, speaking languages like Juba Arabic or Sudanese Arabic.

Music is very important in South Sudan. Artists often sing in English, Swahili, Juba Arabic, or their own languages. Popular genres include Afro-beat, R&B, Zouk, reggae, folk, and hip hop. Some well-known musicians are Yaba Angelosi, De Peace Child, Dynamq, and Emmanuel Jal, who has performed around the world.

Sports

Main article: Sport in South Sudan

Traditional games and sports, like wrestling and mock battles, are popular in South Sudan. These were often played after harvests to celebrate and have fun. Today, association football is becoming more popular, with many programs helping young players improve. The South Sudan national association football team joined FIFA in 2012.

Basketball is also strong, with many South Sudanese players becoming famous around the world, such as Luol Deng. The South Sudan national basketball team began playing internationally in 2011. One South Sudanese athlete, Guor Marial, competed in the 2012 Olympics under the banner of Independent Olympic Athletes since South Sudan did not yet have its own Olympic committee. South Sudan joined the International Olympic Committee in 2016 and sent athletes to the 2016 Summer Olympics.