South Sudan

South Sudan is a landlocked nation located in East Africa.

It is the most recent sovereign state to receive widespread international recognition. The country is surrounded by several neighbors. Sudan lies to the north, while Ethiopia sits to the east. To the southwest is the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Uganda is to the south, and Kenya is to the southeast. The Central African Republic borders the country to the west.

The geography of South Sudan is defined by its diverse landscapes. The terrain includes vast plains and high plateaus. You can find dry and tropical savannahs across the land. There are also forested mountains and inland floodplains. The Nile River system is the most important physical feature. It runs from the south to the north through the center. This river creates the Sudd, which is a massive swamp.

The history of the region involves many different groups of people. Nilotic peoples, such as the Dinka and Nuer, arrived before the tenth century. The Dinka are the largest ethnic group in the country. The Nuer are the second-largest, followed by the Zande and the Bari.

Between the 15th and 19th centuries, many tribes migrated into their modern locations. The Zande people entered the region in the 16th century. They established the largest state in the Equatoria Region. These groups have shaped the cultural landscape of the nation for centuries.

For a long time, the area was governed by outside powers. Egypt occupied the region under the Muhammad Ali dynasty. Later, it was managed as an Anglo-Egyptian condominium. This arrangement lasted until Sudan gained independence in 1956. British colonial policies often focused on the north. They largely ignored the south, which lacked schools, roads, and hospitals. This neglect led to uprisings and the longest civil war on the continent. The First Sudanese Civil War eventually led to the formation of the Southern Sudan Autonomous Region in 1972.

Conflict continued after the autonomy period ended in 1983. The Second Sudanese Civil War broke out and lasted until 2005. This war was ended by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. Following this, southern autonomy was restored for a short time. In January 2011, a referendum was held to decide the future of the region. An overwhelming 98.8% of voters supported independence. South Sudan officially became an independent state on 9 July 2011.

Since independence, the nation has faced significant challenges. A civil war occurred from 2013 to 2020. This conflict involved a political power struggle between President Salva Kiir Mayardit and Riek Machar.

The war resulted in human rights abuses and forced displacement. The country is currently governed by a coalition of former warring leaders. South Sudan is still working to recover from these years of violence. It continues to deal with systemic ethnic violence in some areas.

Today, South Sudan is a very young nation. The population is estimated at over 12.7 million people as of 2024. Roughly half of the population is under the age of 18.

Most people follow Christianity or traditional indigenous faiths. There is also a sizeable Muslim minority. The economy is mostly rural and relies on subsistence farming. However, urban areas like the capital, Juba, are seeing more development.

South Sudan is a member of several international organizations. It belongs to the United Nations and the African Union. It is also part of the East African Community and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development. Despite these connections, it remains one of the least developed countries. It ranks the lowest on the Human Development Index. It also has the lowest nominal GDP per capita. The nation continues to build its infrastructure and its future.