For centuries, evidence of ancient civilizations and trade routes has shown the continuous occupation of present-day South Sudan. At various times before, the area was within the boundaries of the kingdom of Kush and under the dominion of Egyptian and Ottoman empires. In the 19th century, the British colonized the area and called it Anglo-Egyptian Sudan.
The modern history of South Sudan has been plagued with various forms of conflict. In 1956, after Sudan gained independence from the British-Egyptian rule, hostilities erupted between the predominantly Muslim and Arab north and the largely Christian and Animist south. The first civil war from 1955 to 1972 resulted in limited autonomy to the southern part, while the second by far was the more disastrous civil war lasted from 1983 to 2005. The CPA signed in 2005 brought the war to an end and provided for autonomy for the southern area with an option to vote for national independence in a referendum in 2011. The referendum overwhelmingly favored independence, thus heralding the birth of South Sudan.
Geography
South Sudan is one of Africa's largest countries, lying in an area of around 619,745 square kilometers (239,285 square miles). Largely lower lands and wide plateaus characterize typical South Sudan landscapes with the White Nile River running through the middle. The Sudd is one of the largest wetlands formed by the Nile, crucially contributing to the ecosystem of South Sudan.
The climate is tropical, with a distinct rainy season from May to October and a dry season from November to April. The savannah landscape covers grasslands and forests that sustain many wildlife species, such as elephants, giraffes, lions, and diverse other birds.
Politics and Government
South Sudan is prescriptive-republic based on a mixed type of political system. The presidency is both the head of state and head of the government. Salva Kiir Mayardit is the only president of the Republic since independence in 2011. The political system of the Republic was established under the aegis of the 2011 Transitional Constitution of South Sudan.
Since independence, South Sudan underwent numerous challenges in various forms, breathing internal conflicts, political instability, and poor economic conditions. The civil unrest broke out in December 2013, mainly footed on one of the long-standing standoffs for political supremacy between President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar. The bid later gained momentum, throwing the nation into further strands of suffering by way of loss of lives, displacement of millions, and destruction of infrastructure. The need for peace has seen multiple peace agreements signed, including the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) amid unscrambling annualized violence labeled so weakly.
Economy
The economy of South Sudan currently is deeply dependent on oil, which accounts for almost all government revenues and the majority of exports. There are sizable petroleum reserves in the country, and in the Upper Nile and Unity states. However, growing evidence of war has maimed the economy, and the situation has not helped with the conjunction of falling international prices for oil and disruption in his oil production onset from sustainability-related infrastructure damages.
Agricultural production plays such a critical role, employing most people who are mainly involved in subsistence agriculture. The principal crops are sorghum, maize, millet, and cassava. Despite fertile soils and great amounts of water resources at its disposal, South Sudan nevertheless faces crippling food insecurity, partly due to earlier-mentioned effects from war and climate change.
Demographics
With an estimated population of just around 11 million people, South Sudan consists of many ethnic groups with the Dinka, Nuer, Shilluk, Zande, Bari, and Lotuko being some of the major ones. More than 60 languages are spoken, with English as the official language; however, many people speak Arabic and indigenous languages.
Most of the population in South Sudan is Christian; however, there are also many adherents to traditional African religions. In the north, especially close to the border with Sudan, Islam is more widely practiced.
Culture
South Sudan has a rich cultural heritage that reflects its ethnic diversity. Traditional music, dance, and storytelling are essential parts of the daily life, handed down from one generation to another. Many ethnic groups throughout South Sudan have customs, languages, and attire that are distinct to them, where cattle are traditionally a social and economic anchor point for many communities but not limited, with pastoralist Dinka and Nuer having a more pronounced link to cattle and traditional communities.
Art forms include beadwork, pottery, and basket weaving. The scope of traditional ceremonies usually involves musical instruments such as drums and flutes. South Sudanese literature is still in a nascent stage, while oral traditions serve as the main method of preserving history and culture.
Challenges and Future Intentions
South Sudan has been confronted by host of challenges ranging from Hydro-International conflicts to protracted humanitarian crises and underdevelopment since independence. Such efforts go on with the ultimate goal of peace in the country, with the tendency for the life of this nation to go on confronted by ethnic violence, displacement, and poverty. In complementary to the above, the country is highly primitive with little or no road to speak of, delivering very limited education or treatment options, besides widespread corruption limiting development opportunities.
Notwithstanding, South Sudan is endowed with vast resources with enormous agricultural potential. International agencies are partnered with government to restore peace and closed to the nation a step-ahead in giving any opportunity to its people. The future of South Sudan essentially rests upon consolidating peace and addressing quite a number of structural problems that have plagued the nation since its very nascent stages.
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