((Short description|Country in East Africa))
((For|the former autonomous regions that pre-dated South Sudan|Southern Sudan Autonomous Region (1972–1983)|Southern Sudan Autonomous Region (2005–2011))) ((Redirect|RoSS|other uses|Ross (disambiguation)))
((pp-protected|small=yes))
((Pp-move|small=yes))
((Use dmy dates|date=July 2021))
((Infobox country
| conventional_long_name = Republic of South Sudan
| common_name            = South Sudan
| native_name            = 
| image_flag             = Flag of South Sudan.svg
| image_coat             = Coat of arms of South Sudan.svg
| symbol_type            = Coat of arms
| motto                  = <br />"Justice, Liberty, Prosperity"
| national_anthem        = <br />"[[South Sudan Oyee!]]"<div style="padding-top:0.5em;" class="center">[[File:South_Sudan_Oyee!_(instrumental).ogg]]</div>
| image_map              = South Sudan (orthographic projection) highlighted.svg
| map_caption            = South Sudan in dark green, territory claimed but not fully controlled in light green
| capital                = [[Juba]]
| coordinates            = ((Coord|04|51|N|31|36|E|type:city))
| largest_city           = capital
| official_languages     = [[English language|English]]<ref name="engwork">((cite web|url=http://www.goss-online.org/magnoliaPublic/en/home/mainColumnParagraphs/0/content_files/file/FINAL%20TCRSS.doc|title=The Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan, 2011|access-date=12 July 2011|publisher=Government of South Sudan|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://swap.stanford.edu/20110721121619/http://www.goss-online.org/magnoliaPublic/en/home/mainColumnParagraphs/0/content_files/file/FINAL%20TCRSS.doc|archive-date=21 July 2011)) Part One, 6(2). "English shall be the official working language in the Republic of South Sudan".</ref>
| national_languages     = ((hlist|[[Dinka language|Dinka]]|[[Nuer language|Nuer]]|[[Bari language |Bari]]|[[Murle language|Murle]]|[[Luo languages|Luo (Anyuak, Acholi, Shilluk, Pari, Jur-Luo, others)]]||[[Ma'di language|Ma'di]]|[[Otuho language|Otuho]]|[[Zande language|Zande]])) and around 60 other languages((#tag:ref|The Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan, Part One, 6(1): "All indigenous languages of South Sudan are national languages and shall be respected, developed and promoted".<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.sudantribune.com/IMG/pdf/The_Draft_Transitional_Constitution_of_the_ROSS2-2.pdf|title=The Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan, 2011|access-date=18 November 2016|publisher=Government of South Sudan|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629170732/http://www.sudantribune.com/IMG/pdf/The_Draft_Transitional_Constitution_of_the_ROSS2-2.pdf|archive-date=29 June 2011|url-status=live))</ref>|group=note))
| languages_type         = [[Spoken language]]s<ref name=Ethnologue>[[Ethnologue]]: [https://www.ethnologue.com/country/SS/languages ''Ethnologue Languages of the World – South Sudan''] ((Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909150520/https://www.ethnologue.com/country/SS/languages|date=9 September 2018)), Retrieved 9 September 2018.</ref>
| languages              = ((hlist|[[Dinka language|Dinka]]|[[Bari language|Bari]]|[[Juba Arabic]]<ref name=UNICEF>[[UNICEF|United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)]]: [https://www.unicef.org/esaro/UNICEF(2016)LanguageandLearning-SouthSudan-CaseStudy.pdf ''The impact of language policy and practice on children's learning: Evidence from Eastern and Southern Africa 2016''] ((Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913183348/https://www.unicef.org/esaro/UNICEF(2016)LanguageandLearning-SouthSudan-CaseStudy.pdf|date=13 September 2017)) (PDF; 672&nbsp;kB), Pages&nbsp;1–3, Retrieved 9 September 2018</ref><ref>((Cite journal|title=Juba Arabic (Árabi Júba): a "less indigenous" language of South Sudan|url=https://iris.unito.it/retrieve/handle/2318/1702685/508881/06%20ManfrediTosco.pdf|last=Manfredi|first=Stefano|journal=Sociolinguistic Studies|year=2018|volume=12|issue=1|pages=209–230|doi=10.1558/sols.35596|hdl=2318/1702685|s2cid=150503108))</ref><ref>Manfredi Stefano; Tosco Mauro (2016), [https://halshs.archives-ouvertes.fr/halshs-01357537/document ''A new state, an old language policy, and a pidgin-creolo: Juba Arabic in South Sudan, Forthcoming: Sociolinguistic Studies 2016''] ((Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181101013034/https://halshs.archives-ouvertes.fr/halshs-01357537/document|date=1 November 2018)) (PDF; 1141&nbsp;kB), Pages&nbsp;1–18, Retrieved 9 September 2018</ref><ref>Manfredi Stefano; Tosco Mauro (2013), [https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01102624/document ''Language uses vs. language policy: South Sudan and Juba Arabic in the post-independence era''] ((Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909150639/https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01102624/document|date=9 September 2018)) (PDF; 301&nbsp;kB), Pages&nbsp;798–802, III Congresso Coordinamento Universitario per la Cooperazione allo Sviluppo, Sep 2013, Turin, Italy. JUNCO, Journal of Universities and International Development Cooperation, 2014, Imagining Cultures of Cooperation – Proceedings of the III CUCS Congress, Turin 19–21 September 2013, Retrieved 9 September 2018</ref>|[[Nuer language|Nuer]]|[[Zande language|Zande]]|[[Jur language|Jur (Luo)]]|[[Murle language|Murle]]|[[Shilluk language|Shilluk]]|[[Kanuri language|Kanuri]]|[[Languages of South Sudan|various others]]))
| demonym                = [[Demographics of South Sudan|South Sudanese]]
| government_type        = [[Federal system|Federal]] [[provisional government|transitional]] [[presidential republic]]<ref>((cite journal |last1=Brosché |first1=Johan |last2=Höglund |first2=Kristine |title=Crisis of governance in South Sudan: electoral politics and violence in the world's newest nation |journal=The Journal of Modern African Studies |date=2016 |volume=54 |issue=1 |pages=67–90 |doi=10.1017/S0022278X15000828 |jstor=26309777 |s2cid=155945508 |url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/26309777 |issn=0022-278X))</ref>
| leader_title1          = [[President of Republic of South Sudan|President]]
| leader_name1           = [[Salva Kiir Mayardit]]
| leader_title2          = [[Vice President of South Sudan|First Vice President]]
| leader_name2           = [[Riek Machar]]
| leader_title3          = [[National Legislative Assembly (South Sudan)|Speaker]]
| leader_name3           = [[Jemma Nunu Kumba]]
| leader_title4          = [[Judiciary of South Sudan|Chief Justice]]
| leader_name4           = [[Chan Reec Madut]]
| leader_title5          = 
| leader_name5           = 
| leader_title6          = 
| leader_name6           = 
| legislature            = [[National Legislature (South Sudan)|Transitional National Legislature]]
| upper_house            = [[Council of States (South Sudan)|Council of States]]
| lower_house            = [[National Legislative Assembly (South Sudan)|Transitional National Legislative Assembly]]
| sovereignty_type       = [[History of South Sudan|Independence]]
| sovereignty_note       = from [[Sudan]]
| established_event1     = [[Government of Southern Sudan (2005–2011)|Autonomy]]
| established_date1      = 9 July 2005
| established_event2     = [[2011 South Sudanese independence referendum#Results|Declared and recognized]]
| established_date2      = 9 July 2011
| area_km2               = 644329<ref name="CIA Factbook">((Cite CIA World Factbook|country=South Sudan|access-date=22 June 2023|year=2023))</ref>
| area_rank              = 41st <!--should be same as listed on [[List of countries and dependencies by area]]-->
| area_sq_mi             = 400453.1
| percent_water          = 
| population_estimate    = 12,118,379<ref name="CIA Factbook"/>
| population_estimate_year = 2023
| population_estimate_rank = 80th
| population_density_km2 = 13.33
| population_density_sq_mi = 34.52
| population_density_rank = 214th
| GDP_PPP                = ((decrease))$13.6 billion <ref name="imf2">((cite web|url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2022/October|title=World Economic Outlook Database, October 2022|date=October 2022|website=IMF.org|publisher=[[International Monetary Fund]]|access-date= October 11, 2022))</ref>
| GDP_PPP_rank           = 157th
| GDP_PPP_year           = 2022
| GDP_PPP_per_capita     = ((decrease))$934<ref name=imf2 /><!--Do not use CIA factbook as source!-->
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 191st
| GDP_nominal            = ((decrease))$4.7 billion <ref name=imf2 />
| GDP_nominal_rank       = 164th
<!--Do not use CIA factbook as source!-->| GDP_nominal_year       = 2022
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = ((decrease)) $326<ref name=imf2 />
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 194th
| Gini                   = 44.1 <!--number only-->
| Gini_year              = 2016
| Gini_change            = decrease<!--increase/decrease/steady-->
| Gini_ref               = <ref name="wb-gini">((cite web|url=http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.GINI/|title=Gini Index|publisher=World Bank|access-date=16 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140511044958/http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.GINI|archive-date=11 May 2014|url-status=live))</ref>
| Gini_rank              = 
| HDI                    = 0.381<!--number only-->
| HDI_year               = 2022
| HDI_change             = steady<!--increase/decrease/steady-->
| HDI_ref                = <ref name="UNHDR">((cite web|url=https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/global-report-document/hdr2023-24reporten.pdf|title=Human Development Report 2023/24|language=en|publisher=[[United Nations Development Programme]]|date=13 March 2024|access-date=13 March 2024))</ref>
| HDI_rank               = 192nd
| currency               = [[South Sudanese pound]]
| currency_code          = SSP
| time_zone              = [[Central Africa Time]]
| utc_offset             = +2
| date_format            = dd/mm/yyyy
| drives_on              = right<ref>((cite web|title=Traffic and Road Conditions in Sudan, South|url=https://www.countryreports.org/travel/southsudan/traffic.htm|publisher=Countryreports.org|access-date=21 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121233247/https://www.countryreports.org/travel/southsudan/traffic.htm|archive-date=21 January 2019|url-status=live))</ref>
| calling_code           = [[Telephone numbers in South Sudan|+211]]<ref>((cite press release|title=New country, new number: Country code 211 officially assigned to South Sudan|publisher=International Telecommunication Union|date=14 July 2011|url=http://www.itu.int/net/pressoffice/press_releases/2011/25.aspx|access-date=20 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005151037/http://www.itu.int/net/pressoffice/press_releases/2011/25.aspx|archive-date=5 October 2011|url-status=live))</ref>
| iso3166code            = SS
| cctld                  = [[.ss]]<ref name="iana">((cite web|url=https://www.iana.org/domains/root/db/ss.html|title=.ss Domain Delegation Data|work=[[Internet Assigned Numbers Authority]]|publisher=[[ICANN]]|access-date=1 September 2011|archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/666aOCeg2?url=http://www.iana.org/domains/root/db/ss.html|archive-date=12 March 2012|url-status=live))</ref><sup>a</sup>
| footnote_a             = Registered and operational since 2019.
| religion               = ((ublist|item_style=white-space:nowrap;
 |60.5% [[Christianity]]
 |32.9% [[Traditional African religions|traditional faiths]]
 |6.2% [[Islam]]
 |0.4% [[Religion in South Sudan|others]] / [[Irreligion|none]]
 ))
| religion_year          = 2020
| religion_ref           = <ref>((cite web|url=http://www.globalreligiousfutures.org/countries/south-sudan#/?affiliations_religion_id=0&affiliations_year=2020&region_name=All%20Countries&restrictions_year=2016|title=South Sudan|work=Global Religious Futures|publisher=Pew Research Center|access-date=1 August 2023|archive-date=2 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181202113435/http://www.globalreligiousfutures.org/countries/south-sudan#/?affiliations_religion_id=0&affiliations_year=2020&region_name=All%20Countries&restrictions_year=2016|url-status=dead))</ref>
| today                  = 
| org_type               = 
))

'''South Sudan''' (((IPAc-en|s|uː|ˈ|d|ɑː|n|,_|-|ˈ|d|æ|n))), officially the '''Republic of South Sudan''', is a [[landlocked country]] in eastern [[Central Africa]]. It is bordered by [[Ethiopia]], [[Sudan]], the [[Central African Republic]], the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]], [[Uganda]], and [[Kenya]], and includes the vast swamp region of the [[Sudd]], formed by the [[White Nile]] and known locally as the ''[[Bahr al Jabal (river)|Bahr al Jabal]]'', meaning "Mountain Sea".<ref>eg. example reference in ((cite web|url=https://www.thefreedictionary.com/Bahr+al+Jabal|title=Bahr el Jabal|work=The Free Dictionary|access-date=1 August 2023))</ref> The population was 11,088,796 in 2023, and [[Juba]] is the [[Capital city|capital]] and largest city.<ref>((Cite web |title=South Sudan Population Growth Rate 1950-2023 |url=https://www.macrotrends.net/countries/SSD/south-sudan/population-growth-rate |access-date=2023-07-17 |website=Macrotrends))</ref> South Sudan gained independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011, making it the [[List of sovereign states by date of formation|most recent]] sovereign state or country with widespread recognition as of 2024.<ref>((cite web|url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/which-are-the-youngest-countries-of-the-world.html|title=The World's Youngest Countries|website=WorldAtlas|date=28 May 2018|language=en|access-date=11 March 2020))</ref> 

Sudan was occupied by [[History of Egypt under the Muhammad Ali dynasty|Egypt]] under the [[Muhammad Ali dynasty]] and was governed as an [[Anglo-Egyptian Sudan|Anglo-Egyptian condominium]] until Sudanese independence in 1956. Following the [[First Sudanese Civil War]], the [[Southern Sudan Autonomous Region (1972–83)|Southern Sudan Autonomous Region]] was formed in 1972 and lasted until 1983. A [[Second Sudanese Civil War|second Sudanese civil war]] soon broke out in 1983 and ended in 2005 with the [[Comprehensive Peace Agreement]]. Later that year, southern autonomy was restored when an [[Autonomous Government of Southern Sudan]] was formed. South Sudan became an [[independent state]] on 9 July 2011, following 98.8% support for independence in [[South Sudanese independence referendum, 2011|a January 2011 referendum]].<ref>((cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sJugNxYVA8|title=Broadcast of Declaration of Independence (part 1)|publisher=YouTube|date=10 July 2011|access-date=2 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130721084549/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sJugNxYVA8|archive-date=21 July 2013|url-status=live))</ref><ref>((cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/user/Laseranthem#p/a/u/0/v5m4JUyBW38|title=Broadcast of Declaration of Independence (part 2)|publisher=YouTube|date=19 June 2011|access-date=2 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130707130327/http://www.youtube.com/user/Laseranthem#p/a/u/0/v5m4JUyBW38|archive-date=7 July 2013|url-status=live))</ref>

South Sudan has suffered extreme [[Ethnic violence in South Sudan|ethnic violence]], and endured [[South Sudanese Civil War|a civil war]] characterized by rampant [[Human rights in South Sudan|human rights abuses]], including various ethnic massacres and [[List of journalists killed in South Sudan|killings of journalists]] by various parties to the conflict from December 2013 until February 2020, when competing combat leaders [[Salva Kiir Mayardit]]  and [[Riek Machar]] struck a unity deal, the R-ARCSS, in 2018 and formed a coalition government,<ref name="power-sharing">((cite news|title=South Sudan rivals strike power-sharing deal|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-51562367|access-date=28 February 2020|work=[[BBC News]]|date=22 February 2020))</ref> paving the way for refugees to return home.<ref name="malak">((cite web| last=Malak| first=Garang A.| title=Trust issues persist in Juba despite new dawn| website=The East African| date=22 February 2020| url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/ea/Trust-issues-persist-in-South-Sudan/4552908-5464954-format-xhtml-fexisgz/index.html| access-date=20 June 2020))</ref>

The South Sudanese population is composed mostly of [[Nilotic peoples]], and it is demographically among the youngest nations in the world, with roughly half under 18 years old.<ref>((cite web|url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/09/1018671|title='Children's crisis' in South Sudan must be addressed, says top UN official calling for real accountability|date=7 September 2018|access-date=30 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930193622/https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/09/1018671|archive-date=30 September 2018|url-status=live))</ref> The majority of inhabitants adhere to [[Christianity]] or various [[Traditional African religions|Indigenous faiths]].

South Sudan is a [[Member states of the United Nations|member of the United Nations]],<ref>((cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-sudan-un-membership-idUKTRE76D3I120110714|title=South Sudan admitted to U.N. as 193rd member|last=Worsnip|first=Patrick|date=14 July 2011|work=[[Reuters]]|access-date=24 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715144119/http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/07/14/uk-sudan-un-membership-idUKTRE76D3I120110714|archive-date=15 July 2011|url-status=live))</ref><ref>((cite web|url=https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=39034&Cr=South+Sudan&Cr1=|title=UN welcomes South Sudan as 193rd Member State|publisher=United Nations News Service|date=14 July 2011|access-date=14 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150803100613/http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=39034&Cr=South+Sudan&Cr1=|archive-date=3 August 2015|url-status=live))</ref> the [[African Union]],<ref name="au54">((cite web|url=http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/east/South-Sudan-Becomes-African-Unions-54th-Member-126320433.html|title=South Sudan Becomes African Union's 54th Member|publisher=Voice of America News|date=28 July 2011|access-date=28 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110916115846/http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/east/South-Sudan-Becomes-African-Unions-54th-Member-126320433.html|archive-date=16 September 2011|url-status=live))</ref> the [[East African Community]],<ref>"South Sudan admitted into EAC", Daily Nation, 2 March 2016, reprinted at nation.co.ke, accessed 4 March 2016</ref> and the [[Intergovernmental Authority on Development]].<ref>((cite news|url=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-11-25/ethiopia-agrees-to-back-somalia-army-operations-igad-says.html|title=Ethiopia Agrees to Back Somalia Army Operations, IGAD Says|agency=Bloomberg Businessweek|access-date=25 November 2011|date=25 November 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120729154359/http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-11-25/ethiopia-agrees-to-back-somalia-army-operations-igad-says.html|archive-date=29 July 2012))</ref> It is one of the [[least developed countries]] in the world, ranking last in the [[List of countries by Human Development Index|Human Development Index]], and as of 2022 also one of the poorest countries by [[List of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita|GDP per capita]], with only [[Sierra Leone]], [[Afghanistan]] and [[Burundi]] having lower GDPs.<ref>((Cite web |title=GDP per capita, current prices |url=https://www.imf.org/external/datamapper/NGDPDPC@WEO/OEMDC/ADVEC/WEOWORLD?year=2022 |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=www.imf.org))</ref>

==Etymology==
The name ''Sudan'' is a name given to a [[Sudan (region)|geographical region]] to the south of the [[Sahara]], stretching from Western Africa to eastern Central Africa. The name derives from the Arabic ''((transliteration|ar|bilād as-sūdān))'' (((lang|ar|بلاد السودان))), or the "Land of the [[Black people|Blacks]]"<ref>((citation| author = International Association for the History of Religions| title = Numen| publisher = EJ Brill| place = Leiden| year = 1959| page = 131| quote = West Africa may be taken as the country stretching from Senegal in the West to the Cameroons in the East; sometimes it has been called the central and western Sudan, the ''Bilad as-Sūdan'', 'Land of the Blacks', of the Arabs))</ref> The term was used by Arab traders and travellers in the region to refer to the various indigenous black African cultures and societies that they encountered.<ref>((Cite web|title=The Empires of the Western Sudan|url=https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/wsem/hd_wsem.htm|access-date=2022-12-30|website=[[Metropolitan Museum of Art|Met museum]]))</ref>

== History ==
((Main|History of South Sudan))

The [[Nilotic]] people of South Sudan—the [[Dinka people|Dinka]], [[Anyuak]], [[Bari people|Bari]], [[Acholi people|Acholi]], [[Nuer people|Nuer]], [[Shilluk people|Shilluk]], [[Kaligi people|Kaligi]] (Arabic Feroghe), and others—first entered South Sudan sometime before the tenth century, coinciding with the fall of [[medieval Nubia]]. From the 15th to the 19th century, tribal migrations, largely from the area of [[Bahr el Ghazal (region of South Sudan)|Bahr el Ghazal]], brought the Anyuak, Dinka, Nuer, and Shilluk to their modern locations in Bahr El Ghazal and the Upper Nile Region, while the Acholi and [[Bari people|Bari]] settled in [[Equatoria]]. The [[Zande people|Zande]], [[Mundu people|Mundu]], [[Avukaya]] and [[Baka people (Congo and South Sudan)|Baka]], who entered South Sudan in the 16th century, established the region's largest state of Equatoria Region.

The Dinka is the largest, the Nuer the second-largest, the Zande the third-largest, and the Bari the fourth-largest of South Sudan's ethnic groups. They are found in the [[Maridi]], [[Yambio]], and Tombura districts in the [[tropical rainforest]] belt of [[Western Equatoria]], the Adio of Azande client in [[Yei]], [[Central Equatoria]], and [[Western Bahr el Ghazal]]. In the 18th century, the Avungara [[Sib (anthropology)|sib]] rose to power over the rest of Azande society, a domination that continued into the 20th century.<ref>((cite book|editor=Helen Chapin Metz|editor-link=Helen Chapin Metz|title=Sudan: A Country Study|chapter-url=http://countrystudies.us/sudan/11.htm|series=Area handbook series|year=1991|publisher=GPO for the Library of Congress|location=Washington, D.C.|isbn=978-0-8444-0750-0|chapter=The Turkiyah, 1821–85|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/sudancountrystud00metz_0))</ref> British policies favouring Christian missionaries, such as the Closed District Ordinance of 1922 (see [[History of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan]]), and geographical barriers such as the swamplands along the [[White Nile]] curtailed the spread of Islam to the south, thus allowing the southern tribes to retain much of their social and cultural heritage, as well as their political and religious institutions.

British colonial policy in Sudan had a long history of emphasizing the development of the Arab north and largely ignoring the Black African south, which lacked schools, hospitals, roads, bridges, and other basic infrastructure. After Sudan's first independent elections in 1958, the continued neglect of the southern region by the [[Khartoum]] government led to uprisings, revolts, and the longest civil war on the continent.<ref>Matthew LeRiche, Matthew Arnold. South Sudan: from revolution to independence. 2012. Columbia University Press. New York. ((ISBN|978-0-231-70414-4))</ref><ref>[[Richard Cockett]] Sudan: Darfur and the failure of an African state. 2010. Hobbs the Printers Ltd., Totten, Hampshire. ((ISBN|978-0-300-16273-8))</ref> People affected by the violence included the [[Dinka]], [[Nuer people|Nuer]], [[Shilluk people|Shilluk]], [[Anyuak]], [[Murle people|Murle]], [[Bari]], [[Mundari people|Mundari]], [[Baka people (Congo and South Sudan)|Baka]], [[Balanda Bviri]],  [[Boya people|Boya]], [[Didinga]], [[Jiye people|Jiye]], [[Kakwa people|Kakwa]], [[Kaligi people|Kaligi]], [[Kuku people|Kuku]], [[Lotuka]], [[Nilotic]], [[Toposa people|Toposa]], and [[Zande people|Zande]].<ref>Matthew LeRiche, Matthew Arnold. South Sudan: from revolution to independence. 2012. Ethnic Groups and Flashpoints. p. xv. Columbia University Press. New York. ((ISBN|978-0-231-70414-4))</ref>

The Azande have had good relations with their neighbours, namely the [[Moru people|Moru]], [[Mundu people|Mundu]], [[Pojulu people|Pöjulu]], [[Avukaya people|Avukaya]], Baka, and the small groups in Bahr el Ghazal, due to the expansionist policy of their king [[Gbudwe]], in the 18th century. In the 19th century, the Azande fought the French, the [[Belgium|Belgians]] and the [[Muhammad Ahmed|Mahdists]] to maintain their independence. [[Ottoman Egypt]], under the rule of [[Khedive]] [[Isma'il Pasha|Ismail Pasha]], first attempted to control the region in the 1870s, establishing the province of [[Equatoria]] in the southern portion. Egypt's first appointed governor was [[Samuel Baker]], commissioned in 1869, followed by [[Charles George Gordon]] in 1874, and by [[Emin Pasha]] in 1878.<ref name="Levering Lewis 1995">((cite book|last=Levering Lewis|first=David|title=The Race to Fashoda|publisher=Weidenfeld & Nicolson|place=New York|year=1995))</ref>

The [[Muhammad Ahmed|Mahdist Revolt]] of the 1880s destabilized the nascent province, and Equatoria ceased to exist as an Egyptian outpost in 1889. Important settlements in Equatoria included [[Lado District|Lado]], [[Gondokoro]], [[Dufile]], and [[Wadelai]]. European colonial manoeuvrings in the region came to a head in 1898, when the [[Fashoda Incident]] occurred at present-day [[Kodok]]; Britain and France almost went to war over the region.<ref name="Levering Lewis 1995" /> Britain then treated South Sudan as a distinct entity with a different stage of development than the North. This policy was legalized in 1930 by the announcement of the Southern Policy.  In 1946, without consulting Southern opinion, the British administration reversed its Southern Policy and began instead to implement a policy of uniting the North and the South.<ref>((cite journal|url=https://www.africabib.org/rec.php?RID=111593646|title=The 1947 Juba Conference|author=Kenneth Okeny|journal=Northeast African Studies |jstor=43660336|year=1991|volume=13 |issue=1 |pages=39–58 ))</ref>

The region has been negatively affected by two civil wars since Sudanese independence: from 1955 to 1972, the Sudanese government fought the [[Anyanya]] rebel army (Anya-Nya is a term in the [[Madi language (Sudan and Uganda)|Madi]] language which means "snake venom")<ref>Matthew LeRiche, Matthew Arnold. South Sudan: from revolution to independence. 2012. Columbia University Press. New York. p. 16 ((ISBN|978-0-231-70414-4))</ref> during the [[First Sudanese Civil War]], followed by the [[Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement]] (SPLA/M) in the [[Second Sudanese Civil War]] for over twenty years, from 1983 to 2005. As a result, the country suffered serious neglect, a lack of infrastructure development, and major destruction and displacement. More than 2.5 million people have been killed, and millions more have become [[refugee]]s both within and outside the country.

South Sudan has an estimated population of 11 million people in 2023<ref>[https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/south-sudan-population/ Worldometers website, retrieved 2023-08-28]</ref> but, given the lack of a census in several decades, this estimate may be severely distorted. The economy is predominantly rural and relies chiefly on [[subsistence farming]].<ref>[https://www.wfp.org/news/boost-food-security-south-sudan-nine-ventures-bag-us200000-wfp-undps-ignite-food-systems World Food Programme, article dated May 12, 2022]</ref><ref>[https://www.unops.org/news-and-stories/stories/roads-to-food-security-in-south-sudan United Nations Office for Project Services website]</ref> Around 2005, the economy began a transition from this rural dominance, and urban areas within South Sudan have seen extensive development.

===Independence (2011)===
[[File:A South Sudanese girl at independence festivities (5926735716).jpg|thumb|upright|A South Sudanese girl at independence festivities]]

Between 9 and 15 January 2011, as a consequence of the [[Comprehensive Peace Agreement]], [[Southern Sudanese independence referendum, 2011|a referendum]] was held to determine whether South Sudan should become an independent country, separate from Sudan. Following that, 98.83% of those who took part in the referendum voted for separation or independence.<ref>((cite news|work=USA Today|title=Over 99 pct in Southern Sudan vote for secession|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/topstories/2011-01-30-2052877353_x.htm|access-date=30 January 2011|date=30 January 2011|first=Maggie|last=Fick|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110202151710/http://www.usatoday.com/news/topstories/2011-01-30-2052877353_x.htm|archive-date=2 February 2011|url-status=live))</ref> And on 23 January 2011, members of a steering committee on post-independence governing told reporters that upon independence the land would be named the Republic of South Sudan "out of familiarity and convenience". Other names that had been considered were [[Azania]], Nile Republic, [[Kingdom of Kush|Kush]] Republic and even Juwama, a [[portmanteau]] for [[Juba (Southern Sudan)|Juba]], [[Wau, Sudan|Wau]] and [[Malakal]], three major cities.<ref>((cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/24/world/africa/24sudan.html|title=Southern Sudan Nears a Decision on One Matter: Its New Name|author=Kron, Josh|date=23 January 2011|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]))</ref> South Sudan formally became independent from Sudan on 9 July, although certain disputes still remained, including the division of oil revenues, as 75% of all the former Sudan's oil reserves are in South Sudan.<ref>((cite news|work=BBC News|title=South Sudan profile|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14069082|access-date=14 February 2014|date=8 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140214043200/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14069082|archive-date=14 February 2014|url-status=live))</ref> The region of [[Abyei]] still remains disputed and a separate referendum will be held in Abyei on whether they want to join Sudan or South Sudan.<ref>((cite news|title=99.57% of Southern Sudanese vote yes to independence|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12317927|access-date=30 January 2011|date=30 January 2011|work=BBC News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110130081322/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12317927|archive-date=30 January 2011|url-status=live))</ref> The [[South Kordofan conflict]] broke out in June 2011 between the [[Sudan People's Armed Forces|Army of Sudan]] and the SPLA over the [[Nuba Mountains]].

On 9 July 2011, South Sudan became the 54th independent country in Africa<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-14089843 South Sudan becomes an independent nation] ((Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010213502/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-14089843|date=10 October 2018)), BBC News.</ref> (9 July is now celebrated as [[List of national independence days|Independence Day]], a national holiday<ref>((Cite web|title=South Sudan|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/south-sudan/|access-date=7 July 2021|website=CIA World Factbook))</ref>) and since 14 July 2011, South Sudan is the 193rd member of the [[United Nations]].<ref>((cite web|url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2011/07/381552|title=UN welcomes South Sudan as 193rd Member State|date=14 July 2011|website=UN News|access-date=31 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190128123134/https://news.un.org/en/story/2011/07/381552|archive-date=28 January 2019|url-status=live))</ref> On 27 July 2011, South Sudan became the 54th country to join the [[African Union]].<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.au.int/en/content/african-union-welcomes-south-sudan-54th-member-state-union|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812031145/http://www.au.int/en/content/african-union-welcomes-south-sudan-54th-member-state-union|url-status=dead|title=au.int: ''African Union Welcomes South Sudan as the 54th Member State of the Union''|archive-date=12 August 2011))</ref><ref>((cite news|date=5 January 2011|title=The LRA and Sudan|work=[[Al Jazeera English]]|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/peopleandpower/2011/01/20111585750480428.html|url-status=live|access-date=3 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318090401/http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/peopleandpower/2011/01/20111585750480428.html|archive-date=18 March 2015))</ref> In September 2011, [[Google Maps]] recognized South Sudan as an independent country, after a massive crowdsourcing mapping initiative was launched.<ref>((Cite web|last=PiersDillonScott|date=17 September 2011|title=Google Maps officially recognises South Sudan as an independent country|url=https://sociable.co/web/google-maps-officially-recognises-south-sudan-as-an-independent-country/|access-date=11 March 2021|website=The Sociable|language=en-US))</ref>

In 2011 it was reported that South Sudan was at war with at least seven armed groups in 9 of its 10 states, with tens of thousands displaced.<ref name="rebellion">((cite news|title=South Sudan army kills fighters in clashes|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/04/2011424145446998235.html|publisher=Al Jazeera English|date=24 April 2011|access-date=26 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429090553/http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/04/2011424145446998235.html|archive-date=29 April 2011|url-status=live))</ref> The fighters accuse the government of plotting to stay in power indefinitely, not fairly representing and supporting all tribal groups while neglecting development in rural areas.<ref name="rebellion" /><ref name="AP">((cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/news/world/africa/articles/2011/06/02/hundreds_of_civilian_casualties_in_s_sudan_battle/|title=Civilians dead in South Sudan battle|agency=Associated Press|date=2 June 2011|author1=Fick, Maggie|author2=Straziuso, Jason|name-list-style=amp|access-date=3 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203063545/http://www.boston.com/news/world/africa/articles/2011/06/02/hundreds_of_civilian_casualties_in_s_sudan_battle/|archive-date=3 December 2013|url-status=live))</ref> [[Joseph Kony]]'s [[Lord's Resistance Army]] (LRA) also operates in a wide area that includes South Sudan.

Inter-ethnic warfare in some cases predates the war of independence and is widespread. In December 2011, [[Ethnic violence in South Sudan#Murle-Nuer fighting|tribal clashes]] intensified between the [[Nuer White Army]] of the [[Luo peoples|Lou]] [[Nuer people|Nuer]] and the [[Murle people|Murle]].<ref name="aljazeera2">((cite news|title=Thousands flee South Sudan tribal conflict|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2012/01/201212101840599359.html|work=[[Al Jazeera English]]|date=3 January 2012|access-date=3 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120102152458/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2012/01/201212101840599359.html|archive-date=2 January 2012|url-status=live))</ref> The White Army warned it would wipe out the Murle and would also fight South Sudanese and [[United Nations Mission in South Sudan|UN forces]] sent to the area around [[Pibor]].<ref name="Bloomberg">((cite news|title=United Nations urges South Sudan to Help Avert Possible Attack|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-27/united-nations-urges-south-sudan-to-help-avert-possible-attack.html|work=[[Bloomberg Television]]|date=27 December 2011|access-date=3 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214130705/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-27/united-nations-urges-south-sudan-to-help-avert-possible-attack.html|archive-date=14 February 2012|url-status=live))</ref>

In March 2012, South Sudanese forces seized the [[Heglig]] oil fields in lands claimed by both Sudan and South Sudan in the province of [[South Kordofan]] after [[2012 South Sudan–Sudan border conflict|conflict with Sudanese forces]] in the South Sudanese state of [[Unity (state)|Unity]].<ref>((cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17515209|title=Sudan and South Sudan in fierce oil border clashes|publisher=BBC News Africa|date=27 March 2012|access-date=27 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181109224240/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17515209|archive-date=9 November 2018|url-status=live))</ref> South Sudan withdrew on 20 March, and the Sudanese Army entered Heglig two days later.

=== Joining East Africa ===
South Sudan, [[Democratic Republic of the Congo|Democratic Republic of Congo]] and [[Federal Republic of Somalia]] are the newest members of the [[East African Community]]. South Sudan acceded to the Treaty of the East Africa Community on 15 April 2016 and became a full Member on 15 August 2016.<ref>((Cite web|title=Republic of South Sudan|url=https://www.eac.int/eac-partner-states/south-sudan|access-date=2022-04-08|website=www.eac.int))</ref>

=== Civil War (2013–2020) ===
((See also|South Sudanese Civil War))
((further|Ethnic violence in South Sudan))
[[File:Southern Sudan Civil War.svg|thumb|Military situation in South Sudan on 22 March 2020
((legend|#ebc0b3|Under control of the Government of South Sudan))
((legend|#cae7c4|Under control of the [[Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition]]))
((legend|blue|Under control of the [[Government of Sudan]]))]]

On the 5th of September 2013, an article written by analyst Duop Chak Wuol was published by the US-based South Sudan News Agency (SSNA).<ref>((Cite web|url=https://ssnanews.com/index.php/2013/09/05/the-splm-and-the-rise-of-autocracy-in-south-sudan/|title=The SPLM and the Rise of Autocracy in South Sudan|date=5 September 2013))</ref> The writer raised critical questions surrounding what he described as the rise of autocracy within the top leadership of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) and warned of monumental repercussions unless the ruling elites restored the founding principles of the party. Duop also berated the ruling party, arguing that the party has replaced its founding principles with "forgotten promises and deceptions." In December 2013, a political power struggle broke out between President Kiir and his former deputy [[Riek Machar]], as the president accused Machar and ten others of attempting a [[2013 South Sudanese coup d'état attempt|coup d'état]].<ref name="Kulish">((cite news|last=Kulish|first=Nicholas|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/10/world/africa/new-estimate-sharply-raises-death-toll-in-south-sudan.html|title=New Estimate Sharply Raises Death Toll in South Sudan|newspaper=The New York Times|date=9 January 2014|access-date=2 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171015153429/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/10/world/africa/new-estimate-sharply-raises-death-toll-in-south-sudan.html|archive-date=15 October 2017|url-status=live))</ref> Fighting broke out, igniting the [[South Sudanese Civil War]]. Ugandan troops were deployed to fight alongside South Sudanese government forces against the rebels.<ref>((Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-25759650|title=Yoweri Museveni: Uganda troops fighting South Sudan rebels|journal=BBC News|date=16 January 2014|access-date=21 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006114751/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-25759650|archive-date=6 October 2018|url-status=live))</ref> The United Nations has peacekeepers in the country as part of the [[United Nations Mission in South Sudan]] (UNMISS). Numerous ceasefires were mediated by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development ([[IGAD]]) between the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) and [[SPLM-IO|SPLM – in opposition]] and were subsequently broken. A peace agreement was signed in Ethiopia under threat of United Nations sanctions for both sides in August 2015.<ref name="South Sudan country profile">((Cite news|url=http://bbc.com/news/world-africa-14069082|title=South Sudan country profile|journal=BBC News|date=6 August 2018|access-date=2 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160620123955/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-14069082|archive-date=20 June 2016|url-status=live))</ref> Machar returned to Juba in 2016 and was appointed vice president.<ref>((cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-36140423|title=South Sudan rebel chief Riek Machar sworn in as vice-president|publisher=bbcnews.com|access-date=30 April 2016|date=26 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160429155058/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-36140423|archive-date=29 April 2016|url-status=live))</ref> Following a second breakout of violence in Juba, Machar was replaced as vice-president<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/07/south-sudan-opposition-replaces-missing-leader-machar-160723144856580.html|title=South Sudan opposition replaces missing leader Machar|date=23 July 2016|publisher=aljazeera|access-date=15 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160727102427/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/07/south-sudan-opposition-replaces-missing-leader-machar-160723144856580.html|archive-date=27 July 2016|url-status=live))</ref> and he fled the country<ref>((cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-37116862|title=South Sudan conflict: Sacked VP Riek Machar goes into exile|publisher=bbcnews.com|access-date=19 August 2016|date=18 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818231703/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-37116862|archive-date=18 August 2016|url-status=live))</ref> as the conflict erupted again. Rebel in-fighting has become a major part of the conflict.<ref name="fp0117">((cite web|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2017/01/02/the-revenge-of-salva-kiir-south-sudan-genocide-ethnic-cleansing/|title=The revenge of Salva Kiir|date=2 January 2017|publisher=foreignpolicy|access-date=27 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626152337/http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/01/02/the-revenge-of-salva-kiir-south-sudan-genocide-ethnic-cleansing/|archive-date=26 June 2018|url-status=live))</ref> Rivalry among Dinka factions led by the President and Malong Awan has also led to fighting. In August 2018, another power-sharing agreement came into effect.<ref name="washingtonpost0718">((cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/south-sudans-warring-leaders-agree-to-share-power-again/2018/07/25/6ca19412-902b-11e8-ae59-01880eac5f1d_story.html|title=South Sudan's warring leaders agree to share power, again|date=25 July 2018|access-date=1 August 2018|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726110843/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/south-sudans-warring-leaders-agree-to-share-power-again/2018/07/25/6ca19412-902b-11e8-ae59-01880eac5f1d_story.html|archive-date=26 July 2018|url-status=dead))</ref>

About 400,000 people are estimated to have been killed in the war,<ref>((cite news|title=Nearly 400,000 'excess deaths' caused by South Sudan war|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/report-400000-excess-deaths-south-sudan-58090309|work=ABC News|date=26 September 2018|access-date=7 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008022704/https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/report-400000-excess-deaths-south-sudan-58090309|archive-date=8 October 2018|url-status=dead))</ref> including notable atrocities such as the [[2014 Bentiu massacre]].<ref name="Reuters0918">((cite news| url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-southsudan-unrest-toll/study-estimates-190000-people-killed-in-south-sudans-civil-war-idUSKCN1M626R| work=Reuters| title=Study estimates 190,000 people killed in South Sudan's civil war| date=26 September 2018| access-date=26 September 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926173943/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-southsudan-unrest-toll/study-estimates-190000-people-killed-in-south-sudans-civil-war-idUSKCN1M626R| archive-date=26 September 2018| url-status=live))</ref> Although both men have supporters from across South Sudan's ethnic divides, subsequent fighting has been communal, with rebels targeting members of Kiir's Dinka ethnic group and government soldiers attacking Nuers.<ref name="BBC News">((Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-25944446|title=South Sudan 'coup leaders' face treason trial|journal=BBC News|date=29 January 2014|access-date=21 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181102093736/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-25944446|archive-date=2 November 2018|url-status=live))</ref> More than 4 million people have been displaced, with about 1.8 million of those internally displaced, and about 2.5 million having fled to neighbouring countries, especially Uganda and Sudan.<ref name="WashingtonPost0918">((cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/a-new-report-estimates-more-than-380000-people-have-died-in-south-sudans-civil-war/2018/09/25/e41fcb84-c0e7-11e8-9f4f-a1b7af255aa5_story.html|title=A new report estimates that more than 380,000 people have died in South Sudan's civil war|agency=Washington Post|date=26 September 2018|access-date=26 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926131126/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/a-new-report-estimates-more-than-380000-people-have-died-in-south-sudans-civil-war/2018/09/25/e41fcb84-c0e7-11e8-9f4f-a1b7af255aa5_story.html|archive-date=26 September 2018|url-status=live))</ref>

On 20 February 2020, [[Salva Kiir Mayardit]] and [[Riek Machar]] agreed to a peace deal,<ref>((cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-51562367|title=South Sudan rivals strike power-sharing deal|date=22 February 2020|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=25 February 2020))</ref> and on 22 February 2020 formed a [[Cabinet of South Sudan|national unity government]] as Machar was sworn in as the [[Vice President of South Sudan|First Vice President]] of the country.<ref>((Cite web|last=Mednick|first=Sam|title=After 6 years of war, will peace finally come to South Sudan?|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/2/23/after-6-years-of-war-will-peace-finally-come-to-south-sudan|access-date=2023-02-03|website=www.aljazeera.com|language=en))</ref>

Despite the official cessation of the civil war, violence between armed militia groups at the community level has continued in the country; according to [[Yasmin Sooka]], Chair of the Commission of Human Rights in Sudan, the level of violence "far exceeds the violence between 2013 and 2019".<ref>((Cite web|date=2021-02-19|title=Violence in South Sudan engulfs country, 10 years after independence 'children all have guns' ((!)) UN News|url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/02/1085202|access-date=2023-02-03|website=news.un.org|language=en))</ref>

The [[2024 South Sudanese general election|first democratic elections in South Sudan since the start of the civil war]] were scheduled for 2023 by the peace agreement that ended the war officially, but the transitional government and opposition agreed in 2022 to move them to late 2024 instead.<ref>((Cite web|date=2022-08-04|title=South Sudan again delays its 1st election, until late 2024|url=https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-africa-sudan-south-juba-4f35064ef1173a9e14f6e60f55d36b50|access-date=2023-02-03|website=AP NEWS|language=en))</ref>

== Government and politics ==
((Main|Government of South Sudan|Politics of South Sudan))

=== Government ===
[[File:President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama greet His Excellency Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Salva Kiir Mayardit]], the first President of South Sudan. His trademark [[Stetson|Stetson hat]] was a gift from United States President [[George W. Bush]].]]
[[File:South Sudan Independence.jpg|thumb|South Sudan's presidential guard on Independence Day, 2011]]
The now-defunct [[Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly]] ratified a [[Constitution of South Sudan|transitional constitution]]<ref name="transconstit">((cite web|url=http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4e269a3e2.html|title=The Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan, 2011|access-date=12 July 2011|publisher=Government of South Sudan))</ref> shortly before independence on 9 July 2011.<ref>((cite news|url=http://www.sudantribune.com/South-Sudan-passes-interim,39457|title=South Sudan passes interim constitution amid concerns over presidential powers|date=8 July 2011|work=[[Sudan Tribune]]|access-date=24 July 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711141830/http://www.sudantribune.com/South-Sudan-passes-interim,39457|archive-date=11 July 2011))</ref> The constitution was signed by the [[President of South Sudan]], [[Salva Kiir Mayardit]], on Independence Day and thereby came into force. It is now the supreme law of the land, superseding the Interim Constitution of 2005.<ref>((cite web|url=http://gurtong.brandx.eu/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=1atewJwi6UU=&tabid=341|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720154147/http://gurtong.brandx.eu/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=1atewJwi6UU=&tabid=341|archive-date=20 July 2011|title=The Interim Constitution of Southern Sudan of 2005))</ref>

The constitution establishes a [[presidential system]] of government headed by a president who is [[head of state]], [[head of government]], and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. It also establishes the [[National Legislature of South Sudan|National Legislature]] comprising two houses: a directly elected assembly, the [[National Legislative Assembly of South Sudan|National Legislative Assembly]], and a second chamber of representatives of the states, the [[Council of States of South Sudan|Council of States]].<ref>((cite journal|last=Henneberg|first=Ingo|date=2013|title=Das politische System des Südsudan|language=German|trans-title=The Political System of South Sudan|journal=Verfassung und Recht in Übersee / Law and Politics in Africa, Asia and Latin America|volume=46|issue=2|pages=174–196|doi=10.5771/0506-7286-2013-2-174|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305220861|url-status=live|url-access=subscription|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618125722/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305220861_The_Political_System_of_South_Sudan_2011_p_196|archive-date=18 June 2018|doi-access=free))</ref>

[[John Garang]], one of the founders of the SPLA/M, was the president of the autonomous government until his death on 30 July 2005. [[Salva Kiir Mayardit]],<ref name="factbook">((cite web |date=11 July 2011 |title=South Sudan |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/south-sudan/ |access-date=14 July 2011 |work=[[The World Factbook]] |publisher=[[CIA]]))</ref> his deputy, was sworn in as [[List of Vice Presidents of Sudan|First Vice President of Sudan]] and [[List of presidents of South Sudan|President of the Government of Southern Sudan]] on 11 August 2005. [[Riek Machar]]<ref name="factbook" /> replaced him as [[List of Vice-Presidents of the Government of South Sudan|Vice-President of the Government]]. Legislative power is vested in the government and the bicameral National Legislature. The constitution also provides for an independent judiciary, the highest organ being the [[Supreme court|Supreme Court]].

On 8 May 2021, South Sudan President [[Salva Kiir]] announced a dissolution of Parliament as part of a 2018 peace deal to set up a new legislative body that will number 550 lawmakers.<ref>((cite news|title=South Sudan president dissolves parliament as part of peace deal|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/9/south-sudan-president-dissolves-parliament-as-part-of-peace-deal|agency=Al Jazeera|date=9 May 2021))</ref> According to 2023 [[V-Dem Democracy indices]] South Sudan is 3rd lowest ranked [[democracy in Africa|electoral democracy in Africa]].<ref name="vdem_dataset">((cite web |last=V-Dem Institute |date=2023 |title=The V-Dem Dataset |url=https://www.v-dem.net/data/the-v-dem-dataset/ |access-date=14 October 2023))</ref>

=== National capital project ===
[[File:South Sudan 003.jpg|thumb|A young South Sudanese girl smiling in traditional attire]]
The capital of South Sudan is located at [[Juba]], which is also the state capital of [[Central Equatoria]] and the county seat of the eponymous [[Juba County]], and is the country's largest city. However, due to Juba's poor infrastructure and massive urban growth, as well as its lack of centrality within South Sudan, the South Sudanese Government adopted a resolution in February 2011 to study the creation of a new [[planned city]] to serve as the seat of government.<ref name="rnw">((cite news|url=http://www.rnw.nl/africa/article/new-capital-city-south-sudan|agency=Radio Netherlands|date=6 February 2011|access-date=24 July 2011|title=New capital city for South Sudan?|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120629133501/http://www.rnw.nl/africa/article/new-capital-city-south-sudan|archive-date=29 June 2012))</ref><ref name="sudtrib">((cite news|url=http://www.sudantribune.com/South-Sudan-to-establish-a-new,37886|agency=Sudan Tribune|date=6 February 2011|title=South Sudan to establish a new capital city and relocate from Juba after independence|access-date=24 July 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629051336/https://www.sudantribune.com/South-Sudan-to-establish-a-new,37886|archive-date=29 June 2011))</ref> It is planned that the capital city will be changed to the more centrally located [[Ramciel]].<ref name=BBCprofile>((cite news|title=South Sudan profile|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14019208|publisher=BBC|date=5 July 2011|access-date=24 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720232057/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14019208|archive-date=20 July 2011|url-status=live))</ref> This proposal is functionally similar to construction projects in [[Abuja]], Nigeria; [[Brasília]], Brazil; and [[Canberra]], Australia; among other modern-era planned national capitals. It is unclear how the government will fund the project.

In September 2011, a spokesman for the government said the country's political leaders had accepted a proposal to build a new capital at Ramciel,<ref name="relocate">((cite news|url=http://www.sudantribune.com/South-Sudan-relocates-its-capital,40027|agency=Sudan Tribune|date=3 September 2011|access-date=3 September 2011|title=South Sudan relocates its capital from Juba to Ramciel|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929081441/http://www.sudantribune.com/South-Sudan-relocates-its-capital,40027|archive-date=29 September 2011))</ref> a place in [[Lakes (state)|Lakes]] state near the borders with Central Equatoria and [[Jonglei]]. Ramciel is considered to be the geographical centre of the country,<ref name="search">((cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.ug/News/regional-news/4130-the-search-for-new-nations-capital-in-south-sudan|agency=The Independent|date=29 April 2011|title=The search for new nation's capital in South Sudan|first=Mashel|last=Amos|access-date=24 July 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313041336/http://independent.co.ug/news/regional-news/4130-the-search-for-new-nations-capital-in-south-sudan|archive-date=13 March 2016))</ref> and the late pro-independence leader [[John Garang]] allegedly had plans to relocate the capital there before his death in 2005. The proposal was supported by the Lakes state government and at least one Ramciel tribal chief.<ref>((cite news|url=http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/ArticleView/mid/519/articleId/4879/Lakes-Leaders-Visit-Prospective-South-Sudanese-Capital.aspx|agency=Gurtong|date=15 February 2011|access-date=24 July 2011|title=Lakes Leaders Visit Prospective South Sudanese Capital|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328012119/http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/ArticleView/mid/519/articleId/4879/Lakes-Leaders-Visit-Prospective-South-Sudanese-Capital.aspx|archive-date=28 March 2012|url-status=live))</ref> The design, planning, and construction of the city will likely take as many as five years, government ministers said, and the move of national institutions to the new capital will be implemented in stages.<ref name="relocate" />

=== States ===
==== 2011–2015 ====
[[File:SouthSudanStates.svg|thumb|upright=1.9|The ten states of South Sudan grouped in the three historical provinces of [[Anglo-Egyptian Sudan]] ((legend|#9BCD9B|[[Bahr el Ghazal (region of South Sudan)|Bahr el Ghazal]])) ((legend|#7AC5CD|[[Equatoria]])) ((legend|#EEE685|[[Greater Upper Nile]]))]]
Prior to 2015, South Sudan was divided into 10 states, which also correspond to three historical regions: [[Bahr el Ghazal (region of South Sudan)|Bahr el Ghazal]], [[Equatoria]], and [[Greater Upper Nile]]:

;[[Bahr el Ghazal (region of South Sudan)|Bahr el Ghazal]]
*[[Northern Bahr el Ghazal]]
*[[Western Bahr el Ghazal]]
*[[Lakes (state)|Lakes]]
*[[Warrap (state)|Warrap]]

;[[Equatoria]]
*[[Western Equatoria]]
*[[Central Equatoria]] (containing the national capital city of [[Juba]])
*[[Eastern Equatoria]]

;[[Greater Upper Nile]]
*[[Jonglei]]
*[[Unity (state)|Unity]]
*[[Upper Nile (state)|Upper Nile]]

The [[Abyei]] Area, a small region of Sudan bordering on the South Sudanese states of Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Warrap, and Unity, was given special administrative status as a result of the [[Comprehensive Peace Agreement]] signed in 2005.  Following the independence of South Sudan in 2011, Abyei is considered to be simultaneously part of both the [[Republic of Sudan]] and the Republic of South Sudan, effectively a [[condominium (international law)|condominium]]. It was due to hold a [[Abyei status referendum, 2011|referendum]] in 2011 on whether to join South Sudan or remain part of the Republic of Sudan, but in May 2011, the Sudanese military seized Abyei, and it is not clear if the referendum will be held.

==== 2015–2020 ====
[[File:South Sudan-32 States.png|thumb|upright=1.9|The 32 states of South Sudan, after the addition of 4 more states in 2017]]

In October 2015, South Sudan's President Salva Kiir issued a decree establishing 28 states in place of the 10 constitutionally established states.<ref>((Cite news|url = https://radiotamazuj.org/en/article/kiir-and-makuei-want-28-states-s-sudan|title = Kiir and Makuei want 28 states in South Sudan|work = Radio Tamazuj|access-date = 16 October 2015|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151208183221/https://radiotamazuj.org/en/article/kiir-and-makuei-want-28-states-s-sudan|archive-date = 8 December 2015|df = dmy-all))</ref> The decree established the new states largely along ethnic lines. A number of opposition parties and civil society challenged the constitutionality of this decree and Kiir later resolved to take it to parliament for approval as a constitutional amendment.<ref>((Cite news|url = https://radiotamazuj.org/en/article/kiir-pressured-taking-decree-parliament-approval|title = Kiir pressured into taking decree to parliament for approval|work = Radio Tamazuj|access-date = 16 October 2015|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304224908/https://radiotamazuj.org/en/article/kiir-pressured-taking-decree-parliament-approval|archive-date = 4 March 2016|df = dmy-all))</ref> In November the South Sudanese parliament empowered President Kiir to create new states.<ref>((Cite news|url = http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article57484|title = South Sudan's Kiir appoints governors of 28 new states|work = Sudan Tribune|access-date = 13 January 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160126195523/http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article57484|archive-date = 26 January 2016|url-status = live))</ref>

;Bar el Ghazal
#[[Aweil State|Aweil]]
#[[Aweil East]]
#[[Eastern Lakes State|Eastern Lakes]]
#[[Gogrial State|Gogrial]]
#[[Gok State|Gok]]
#[[Lol State|Lol]]
#[[Tonj State|Tonj]]
#[[Twic]]
#[[Wau State|Wau]]
#[[Western Lakes State|Western Lakes]]

;Equatoria
#[[Amadi State|Amadi]]
#[[Gbudwe State|Gbudwe]]
#[[Torit]]
#[[Jubek State|Jubek]] (containing the national capital city of [[Juba]])
#[[Maridi State|Maridi]]
#[[Kapoeta State|Kapoeta]]
#[[Tambura State|Tambura]]
#[[Terekeka State|Terekeka]]
#[[Yei River State|Yei River]]

;Greater Upper Nile
#[[Boma State|Boma]]
#[[Central Upper Nile State|Central Upper Nile]]
#[[Akobo State|Akobo]]
#[[Northern Upper Nile State|Northern Upper Nile]]
#[[Jonglei|Jonglei State]]
#[[Latjoor]]
#[[Maiwut State|Maiwut]]
#[[Northern Liech]]
#[[Ruweng State|Ruweng]]
#[[Southern Liech]]
#[[Bieh State|Bieh]]
#[[Fashoda State]]
#[[Fangak State]]

On 14 January 2017 another four states were created; Central Upper Nile, Northern Upper Nile, Tumbura and Maiwut.<ref>((cite web|title=South Sudanese President creates four more states|url=http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article61403|website=www.sudantribune.com|date=12 August 2017 |publisher=Sudan Tribune|access-date=5 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918153344/http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article61403|archive-date=18 September 2017|url-status=live))</ref><ref>((cite web|title=Jan2017 South Sudan|url=https://www.crisisgroup.org/crisiswatch/database?location%5B%5D=13&date_range=last_12_months&from_month=01&from_year=2017&to_month=01&to_year=2017|website=International Crisis Group|access-date=6 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905184735/https://www.crisisgroup.org/crisiswatch/database?location%5B%5D=13&date_range=last_12_months&from_month=01&from_year=2017&to_month=01&to_year=2017|archive-date=5 September 2017|url-status=live))</ref>

====2020–present====
((Main|States of South Sudan))
Under the terms of a peace agreement signed on 22 February 2020, South Sudan is divided into 10 states, two administrative areas and one area with special administrative status.<ref>((cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/02/6-years-war-peace-finally-south-sudan-200223114919537.html|title=After 6 years of war, will peace finally come to South Sudan?|website=www.aljazeera.com))</ref><ref>((cite web|author=d e k u e k|url=https://twitter.com/dekuekd/status/1228596792155000833|title=d e k u e k on Twitter: "So it has been decided that #SouthSudan shall revert to 10 states plus Abyei, Pibor and Ruweng Administrative Areas.â€Ś "|publisher=Twitter.com|date=15 February 2020|access-date=24 May 2020))</ref>

The [[Kafia Kingi]] area is disputed between South Sudan and Sudan and the [[Ilemi Triangle]] is disputed between South Sudan and Kenya.

The  states and administrative areas are once again grouped into the three former historical provinces of the Sudan; [[Bahr el Ghazal (region of South Sudan)|Bahr el Ghazal]], [[Equatoria]] and [[Greater Upper Nile]]:

;[[Bahr el Ghazal (region of South Sudan)|Bahr el Ghazal]]
*[[Northern Bahr el Ghazal]]
*[[Western Bahr el Ghazal]]
*[[Lakes (state)|Lakes]]
*[[Warrap (state)|Warrap]]

;[[Equatoria]]
*[[Western Equatoria]]
*[[Central Equatoria]] (containing the national capital city of [[Juba]])
*[[Eastern Equatoria]]

;[[Greater Upper Nile]]
*[[Jonglei]]
*[[Unity (state)|Unity]]
*[[Upper Nile (state)|Upper Nile]]

;Administrative Areas

*[[Greater Pibor Administrative Area]]
*[[Ruweng Administrative Area]]

;Special Administrative Status Areas
*[[Abyei|Abyei Special Administrative Area]]

=== Military ===
((Main|South Sudan People's Defence Forces))

A Defence paper was initiated in 2007 by then Minister for SPLA Affairs [[Dominic Dim Deng]], and a draft was produced in 2008. It declared that Southern Sudan would eventually maintain land, air, and riverine forces.<ref>((cite news|url=http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article27642|title=Juba parliament authorizes establishment of South Sudan air force|date=25 June 2008|work=[[Sudan Tribune]]|access-date=24 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121116123534/http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article27642|archive-date=16 November 2012|url-status=live))</ref><ref>((cite web|url=http://aircraft.zurf.info/article/creation-south-sudan-air-force|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110212205613/http://aircraft.zurf.info/article/creation-south-sudan-air-force|archive-date=12 February 2011|title=Creation of the South Sudan Air Force|date=9 January 2011|work=aircraft.zurf.info))</ref>

((As of|2015)), South Sudan has the third highest military spending as a percentage of GDP in the world, behind only Oman and Saudi Arabia.<ref>((cite web|url=http://databank.worldbank.org/data/reports.aspx?source=2&series=MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS&country=|title=The World Bank|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170428135151/http://databank.worldbank.org/data/reports.aspx?source=2&series=MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS&country=|archive-date=28 April 2017|url-status=live))</ref>

=== Media((anchor|Media freedom)) ===
((Main|Media of South Sudan))
While former Information Minister [[Barnaba Marial Benjamin]] vowed that South Sudan will respect [[freedom of the press]] and allow journalists unrestricted access in the country, the chief editor of [[Juba]] newspaper ''[[The Citizen (South Sudan)|The Citizen]]'' claimed that in the absence of a formal media law in the fledgling republic, he and his staff have faced abuse at the hands of security forces. This alleged fettering of media freedom was attributed in an [[Al Jazeera Media Network|Al Jazeera]] report to the difficulty [[SPLM]] has faced in reforming itself as a legitimate government after years of leading a rebellion against the Sudanese government. ''The Citizen'' is South Sudan's largest newspaper, but poor infrastructure and poverty have kept its staff relatively small and limited the efficiency of both its reporting and its circulation outside of Juba, with no dedicated news bureaus in outlying states and newspapers often taking several days to reach states like [[Northern Bahr el Ghazal]].<ref>((cite news|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/spotlight/southsudanindependence/2011/07/201171211357184117.html|agency=Al Jazeera English|date=12 July 2011|access-date=12 July 2011|title=South Sudan journalists facing intimidation|first=Gregg|last=Carlstrom|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713130342/http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/spotlight/southsudanindependence/2011/07/201171211357184117.html|archive-date=13 July 2011|url-status=live))</ref> In May 2020, ''South Sudan Friendship Press'' was established as the country's first dedicated online news website.<ref>((cite web|title=South Sudan Friendship Press|url=https://www.s-sfp.com/|website=South Sudan FP|language=en|access-date=8 May 2020))</ref>
''Nile citizens '' is laid out as the nation's committed web-based news site.<ref>((cite web | url=https://nilecitizens.com/category/nile-news-upades/south-sudan/ | title=South Sudan NILE CITIZENS | date=5 December 2023 ))</ref> 

==== Censorship ====
On 1 November 2011, South Sudan's National Security Services (NSS) arrested the editor of a private Juba-based daily, ''Destiny'', and suspended its activities indefinitely. This was in response to an opinion article by columnist Dengdit Ayok, entitled "Let Me Say So", which criticized the president for allowing his daughter to marry an Ethiopian national, and accused him of "staining his patriotism". An official letter accused the newspaper of breaking "the media code of conduct and professional ethics", and of publishing "illicit news" that was defamatory, inciting, and invading the privacy of personalities. The [[Committee to Protect Journalists]] had voiced concerns over media freedoms in South Sudan in September.<ref>((cite news|url=http://www.cpj.org/2011/11/south-sudan-security-detains-two-journalists.php|agency=Committee to Protect Journalists|date=7 November 2011|access-date=8 November 2011|title=South Sudan security detains two journalists|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111108005137/http://www.cpj.org/2011/11/south-sudan-security-detains-two-journalists.php|archive-date=8 November 2011|url-status=live))</ref> The NSS released the journalists without charge after having held them for 18 days.<ref name="Sudan Tribune 2011-11-18" />

In 2015, Salva Kiir threatened to kill journalists who reported "against the country".<ref>((cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-34008089|title=South Sudan journalist Peter Moi shot dead|publisher=bbcnews.com|access-date=3 September 2015|date=20 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150822232154/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-34008089|archive-date=22 August 2015|url-status=live))</ref> Work conditions have become terrible for journalists, and many have left the country, such as documentarian Ochan Hannington.<ref>((cite web|url= http://www.dandc.eu/en/article/south-sudanese-filmmaker-ochan-hannington-speaks-about-his-dangerous-work-and-why-he-loves|title= Risking my life|first= Ochan|last= Hannington|date= 31 October 2015|publisher= D+C, development and cooperation|access-date= 21 December 2015|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151122182556/http://www.dandc.eu/en/article/south-sudanese-filmmaker-ochan-hannington-speaks-about-his-dangerous-work-and-why-he-loves|archive-date= 22 November 2015|url-status= live))</ref> In August 2015, after journalist Peter Moi was killed in a targeted attack, being the seventh journalist killed during the year, South Sudanese journalists held a 24-hour news blackout.<ref>((cite news|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/World/2015/Aug-21/312136-south-sudan-media-blackout-after-reporter-shot-dead.ashx|title=South Sudan media blackout after reporter shot dead|publisher=dailystar.com.lb|access-date=3 September 2015|date=21 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150825035239/http://www.dailystar.com.lb//News/World/2015/Aug-21/312136-south-sudan-media-blackout-after-reporter-shot-dead.ashx|archive-date=25 August 2015|url-status=live))</ref>

In August 2017, a 26-year-old American journalist, Christopher Allen, was killed in [[Kaya, South Sudan|Kaya]], [[Yei River State]], during fighting between government and opposition forces. Christopher Allen was a freelance journalist who had worked for several U.S. news outlets. He had been reportedly embedded with the opposition forces in South Sudan for a week before he was killed.<ref>((cite news|url=http://www.southsudan.biz/2017/08/27/us-journalist-killed-in-yei-river/|title=US journalist killed in Yei River|publisher=southsudan.biz|access-date=19 September 2017|date=27 August 2017))((Dead link|date=May 2019|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes))</ref> The same month, President Salva Kiir said the millions of civilians fleeing South Sudan were being driven by the propaganda from social media users conspiring against his government.<ref>((cite news|url=http://www.southsudan.biz/2017/08/28/south-sudan-president-downplays-refugee-crisis-blames-social-media/|title=South Sudan president downplays refugee crisis, blames social media|publisher=southsudan.biz|access-date=19 September 2017|date=28 August 2017))((Dead link|date=May 2019|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes))</ref> Just a month prior in July 2017, access to major news websites and popular blogs including [[Sudan Tribune]] and [https://radiotamazuj.org/en Radio Tamazuj] had been blocked by the government without formal notice.<ref>((cite news|url=http://www.dw.com/en/south-sudan-blocks-access-to-independent-websites/a-39786961|title=South Sudan blocks access to independent websites|publisher=dw.com|access-date=19 September 2017|date=21 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909044730/http://www.dw.com/en/south-sudan-blocks-access-to-independent-websites/a-39786961|archive-date=9 September 2017|url-status=live))</ref> In June 2020, access to [[Sudans Post]], a local news website, was blocked by the government following the publication of an article deemed defamatory by the NSS.<ref>((Cite book|date=23 December 2020|title=World Report 2021: Rights Trends in South Sudan|chapter=South Sudan: Events of 2020|url=https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2021/country-chapters/south-sudan|access-date=16 June 2021|website=Human Rights Watch|language=en))</ref> Two months later, Qurium Media Foundation, a Swedish non-profit organization, announced that it has deployed a mirror for the website to circumvent the government blocking.<ref>((Cite web|title="Sudans Post" gets blocked after receiving personal threats from NSS – transcript revealed – Qurium Media Foundation|url=https://www.qurium.org/alerts/blocked-sudans-post-received-threats-for-achai-wiir-related-articles/|access-date=16 June 2021|language=en-GB))</ref>

=== Foreign relations ===
((Main|Foreign relations of South Sudan))
[[File:Secretary Kerry Meets With South Sudan President Kiir (3).jpg|thumb|U.S. Secretary of State [[John Kerry]] meets with President Salva Kiir, 26 May 2013.]]

Since independence, relations with Sudan have been changing. Sudan's President [[Omar al-Bashir]] first announced, in January 2011, that dual citizenship in the North and the South would be allowed,<ref name="BBC independence">((cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12144675|title=Southern Sudan votes on independence|author=Ross, Will|publisher=BBC|date=9 January 2011|access-date=2 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110401085955/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12144675|archive-date=1 April 2011|url-status=live))</ref> but upon the independence of South Sudan he retracted the offer. He has also suggested an EU-style confederation.<ref name="BBC 9 July">((cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14089843|title=South Sudan becomes an independent nation|work=BBC News|date=9 July 2011|access-date=9 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709112842/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14089843|archive-date=9 July 2011|url-status=live))</ref> [[Essam Sharaf]], Prime Minister of Egypt after the [[Egyptian revolution of 2011|2011 Egyptian Revolution]], made his first foreign visit to [[Khartoum]] and [[Juba]] in the lead-up to South Sudan's secession.<ref>((cite web|url=http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2011/1041/eg1.htm|title=AlAhram Weekly&nbsp;– Heading for headwaters|publisher=Weekly.ahram.org.eg|date=6 April 2011|access-date=2 May 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023114713/http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2011/1041/eg1.htm|archive-date=23 October 2012))</ref> Israel quickly recognized South Sudan as an independent country,<ref>((Cite news|last=Lior|first=Ilan|url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/netanyahu-israel-recognizes-south-sudan-as-independent-state-1.372460|title=Netanyahu: Israel recognizes South Sudan as independent state|journal=Haaretz|date=10 July 2011|access-date=2 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130221180853/http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/netanyahu-israel-recognizes-south-sudan-as-independent-state-1.372460|archive-date=21 February 2013|url-status=live))</ref> and is host to thousands of [[Sudanese refugees in Israel|refugees from South Sudan]],<ref>((cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/06/17/120-south-sudanese-leaving-israel-under-pressure/|title=120 South Sudanese leaving Israel under pressure|newspaper=[[Fox News]]|date=17 June 2012|access-date=22 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120624044509/http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/06/17/120-south-sudanese-leaving-israel-under-pressure/|archive-date=24 June 2012|url-status=live))</ref> who now face deportation to their native country.<ref>((cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-southsudan-idUSBRE85G0PA20120617|title=Israel launches African migrant deportation drive|newspaper=[[Reuters]]|date=17 June 2012|access-date=2 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924164638/http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/17/us-israel-southsudan-idUSBRE85G0PA20120617|archive-date=24 September 2015|url-status=live))</ref><ref>((cite web|url=http://www.irinnews.org/Report/95685/SOUTH-SUDAN-ISRAEL-Returnees-complain-of-harsh-treatment-in-Israel|title=IRIN Middle East &#124; SOUTH SUDAN-ISRAEL: Returnees complain of harsh treatment in Israel &#124; Israel &#124; South Sudan &#124; Early Warning &#124; Economy &#124; Governance &#124; Human Rights &#124; Migration|publisher=Irinnews.org|date=19 June 2012|access-date=21 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202223207/http://www.irinnews.org/report/95685/south-sudan-israel-returnees-complain-of-harsh-treatment-in-israel|archive-date=2 December 2013|url-status=live))</ref> According to American sources, President Obama officially recognised the new state after  [[Sudan]], Egypt, Germany and Kenya were among the first to recognise the country's independence on 8 July 2011.<ref>((Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sudan-usa-obama-idUSTRE76817120110709|title=Obama grants U.S. recognition of South Sudan|journal=Reuters|first=Matt|last=Spetalnick|date=9 July 2011|access-date=2 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028201754/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sudan-usa-obama-idUSTRE76817120110709|archive-date=28 October 2017|url-status=live))</ref><ref>D. H. Johnson, ''The Root Causes of Sudan's Civil Wars''</ref> Several states that participated in the international negotiations concluded with a self-determination referendum were also quick to acknowledge the overwhelming result. The Rationalist process included Kenya, Uganda, Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya, Eritrea, the United Kingdom and Norway.<ref>(( citation| first=Fernando| last=Prieto| title=Did the US act as a 'defensive-positionalist' power and was it primary moved by local and regional stability concerns when it recognized South Sudan in 2011?| work=Research Study SIS 686| date= 18 November 2014))</ref>((efn| See table in [[Foreign relations of South Sudan]] with footnotes for early recognition countries.))

South Sudan is a member state of the United Nations,<ref>((cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14151390|agency=BBC News|date=14 July 2011|access-date=14 July 2011|title=UN welcomes South Sudan as 193rd member|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714202229/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14151390|archive-date=14 July 2011|url-status=live))</ref> the [[African Union]],<ref name="au54" /><ref>((cite news|url=http://www.au.int/en/content/peace-and-security-council-african-union-au-its-285th-meeting-held-13-july-2011-was-briefe-1|date=13 July 2011|access-date=15 July 2011|title=The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 285th meeting held on 13 July 2011, was briefed by the Commissioner for Peace and Security on the accession to independence of the Republic of South Sudan|agency=African Union|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120504162230/http://www.au.int/en/content/peace-and-security-council-african-union-au-its-285th-meeting-held-13-july-2011-was-briefe-1|archive-date=4 May 2012))</ref> the [[East African Community]],<ref name="en.igihe.com" /><ref name=bw1>((cite web|url=http://www.busiweek.com/11/editorial/editorial/1316-welcome-south-sudan-to-eac|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927010848/http://www.busiweek.com/11/editorial/editorial/1316-welcome-south-sudan-to-eac|archive-date=27 September 2011|publisher=East African Business Week|title=Welcome South Sudan to EAC!|date=10 July 2011|access-date=10 July 2011))</ref><ref name="sudantribune1">((cite news|url=http://www.sudantribune.com/South-Sudan-avails-new-foreign,39637|agency=Sudan Tribune|title=South Sudan avails new foreign policy, to open 54 embassies|date=25 July 2011|access-date=6 August 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110729051637/https://www.sudantribune.com/South-Sudan-avails-new-foreign,39637|archive-date=29 July 2011))</ref> and the [[Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa]].<ref>((cite news|url=http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story.asp?storyid={62d78860-a792-475c-bff9-0722d5d61d3e}|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403034148/http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story.asp?storyid=%7B62d78860-a792-475c-bff9-0722d5d61d3e%7D|archive-date=3 April 2012|agency=MENAFN.com|title=COMESA Welcomes New Member|date=31 October 2011|access-date=13 November 2011|url-status=dead))</ref> South Sudan plans to join the [[Commonwealth of Nations]],<ref>((cite news|url=http://talkofsudan.com/sudan/item/9001-south-sudan-launches-bid-to-join-commonwealth|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110712044345/http://talkofsudan.com/sudan/item/9001-south-sudan-launches-bid-to-join-commonwealth|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 July 2011|agency=Gurtong News via Talk of Sudan|date=8 July 2011|access-date=9 July 2011|title=South Sudan Launches Bid to Join Commonwealth))</ref> the [[International Monetary Fund]],<ref>((cite news|url=http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pr/2011/pr11145.htm|agency=International Monetary Fund|title=IMF Receives Membership Application from South Sudan, Seeks Contributions to Technical Assistance Trust Fund to Help New Country|date=20 April 2011|access-date=10 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110424085250/http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pr/2011/pr11145.htm|archive-date=24 April 2011|url-status=live))</ref> [[OPEC Plus|OPEC+]], and the [[World Bank]].<ref>((cite news|url=http://finchannel.com/news_flash/World/90526_World_Bank_Group_Congratulates_People_of_South_Sudan_on_Independence/|agency=The Financial|date=9 July 2011|access-date=10 July 2011|title=World Bank Group Congratulates People of South Sudan on Independence|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711063900/http://finchannel.com/news_flash/World/90526_World_Bank_Group_Congratulates_People_of_South_Sudan_on_Independence/|archive-date=11 July 2011))</ref> Some international trade organizations categorize South Sudan as part of the [[Greater Horn of Africa]].<ref>Maxwell, Daniel, and Ben Watkins. "Humanitarian information systems and emergencies in the Greater Horn of Africa: logical components and logical linkages." Disasters 27.1 (2003): 72–90.</ref>

Full membership in the [[Arab League]] has been assured, should the country's government choose to seek it,<ref name="sdntribuneArabLg">((cite news|url=http://www.sudantribune.com/South-Sudan-entitled-to-join-Arab,39193|agency=Sudan Tribune|date=12 June 2011|access-date=8 July 2011|title=South Sudan "entitled to join Arab League"|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629062631/https://www.sudantribune.com/South-Sudan-entitled-to-join-Arab,39193|archive-date=29 June 2011))</ref> though it could also opt for observer status.<ref>((cite news|url=http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2011/1055/re10.htm|agency=Al-Ahram|date=7 July 2011|access-date=8 July 2011|title=Hoping for the best|first=Asmaa|last=El-Husseini|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711201000/http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2011/1055/re10.htm|archive-date=11 July 2011))</ref> It was admitted to UNESCO on 3 November 2011.<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.gossmission.org/goss/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1263&Itemid=1|title=South Sudan is UNESCO's 194th member|publisher=Embassy of the Republic of South Sudan in Washington, DC|date=3 November 2011|access-date=1 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111129094633/http://www.gossmission.org/goss/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1263&Itemid=1|archive-date=29 November 2011|url-status=usurped))</ref> On 25 November 2011, it officially joined the [[Intergovernmental Authority on Development]], a regional grouping of [[East Africa]]n states.<ref>((cite news|url=https://af.reuters.com/article/investingNews/idAFJOE7AO0A820111125|work=Reuters|date=25 November 2011|access-date=25 November 2011|title=East African bloc admits South Sudan as member|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120505123658/http://af.reuters.com/article/investingNews/idAFJOE7AO0A820111125|archive-date=5 May 2012|url-status=dead))</ref>

The United States supported the 2011 referendum on South Sudan's independence. The ''New York Times'' reported that "South Sudan is in many ways an American creation, carved out of war-torn Sudan in a referendum largely orchestrated by the United States, its fragile institutions nurtured with billions of dollars in American aid."<ref>((cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/04/us/politics/us-is-facing-hard-choices-in-south-sudan.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=3 January 2014|title=U.S. Is Facing Hard Choices in South Sudan|access-date=28 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131143757/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/04/us/politics/us-is-facing-hard-choices-in-south-sudan.html|archive-date=31 January 2017|url-status=live))</ref> The U.S. government's long-standing sanctions against Sudan were officially removed from applicability to newly independent South Sudan in December 2011, and senior RSS officials participated in a high-level international engagement conference in Washington, D.C., to help connect foreign investors with the RSS and South Sudanese private sector representatives.<ref>((cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/e/eb/rls/othr/ics/2013/204855.htm|title=South Sudan|publisher=State.gov|access-date=21 December 2013))</ref> Given the interdependence between some sectors of the economy of the Republic of South Sudan and the Republic of Sudan, certain activities still require OFAC authorization. Absent a licence, current Sudanese sanction regulations will continue to prohibit U.S. persons from dealing in property and interests that benefit Sudan or the Government of Sudan.<ref>((cite web|url=http://southsudan.usembassy.gov/business/doing-business-in-south-sudan.html|title=Doing Business in South Sudan &#124; Embassy of the United States Juba, South Sudan|publisher=Southsudan.usembassy.gov|access-date=21 December 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101030038/http://southsudan.usembassy.gov/business/doing-business-in-south-sudan.html|archive-date=1 January 2014))</ref> A 2011 Congressional Research Service report, "The Republic of South Sudan: Opportunities and Challenges for Africa's Newest Country", identifies outstanding political and humanitarian issues as the country forges its future.<ref>((cite web|url=https://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/170506.pdf|title=Republic of South Sudan: Opportunities and Challenges for Africa's Newest Country|publisher=Congressional Research Service|author=Dagne, Ted|year=2011|access-date=25 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201101335/https://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/170506.pdf|archive-date=1 February 2017|url-status=live))</ref>

In July 2019, UN ambassadors of 37 countries, including South Sudan, signed a joint letter to the [[UNHRC]] defending China's treatment of [[Uyghurs]] in the [[Xinjiang]] region.<ref>((cite news|title=Which Countries Are For or Against China's Xinjiang Policies?|url=https://thediplomat.com/2019/07/which-countries-are-for-or-against-chinas-xinjiang-policies/|work=[[The Diplomat]]|date=15 July 2019|access-date=18 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716160658/https://thediplomat.com/2019/07/which-countries-are-for-or-against-chinas-xinjiang-policies/|archive-date=16 July 2019|url-status=live))</ref>

=== Human rights ===
((Main|Human rights in South Sudan))
Campaigns of atrocities against civilians have been attributed to the SPLA.<ref name="Al Jazeera">((cite news|title=Sudan: Transcending tribe|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/photo_galleries/africa/201111010324526960.html|publisher=Al Jazeera English|access-date=30 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110317113359/http://english.aljazeera.net//photo_galleries/africa/201111010324526960.html|archive-date=17 March 2011|url-status=live))</ref> In the SPLA/M's attempt to disarm rebellions among the [[Shilluk people|Shilluk]] and [[Murle people|Murle]], they burned scores of villages, [[rape]]d hundreds of women and girls and killed an untold number of civilians.<ref name=aljazeera>((cite news|title=Sudan: Transcending tribe|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/photo_galleries/africa/201111010324526960.html|work=[[Al Jazeera English]]|access-date=30 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110317113359/http://english.aljazeera.net//photo_galleries/africa/201111010324526960.html|archive-date=17 March 2011|url-status=live))</ref> Civilians alleging [[torture]] claim fingernails being torn out, burning plastic bags dripped on children to make their parents hand over weapons, and villagers burned alive in their huts if it was suspected that rebels had spent the night there.<ref name=aljazeera /> In May 2011, the SPLA allegedly set fire to over 7,000 homes in [[Unity State]].<ref>((cite news|title=SPLA set fire to over 7,000 homes in Unity says Mayom county official|url=http://www.sudantribune.com/SPLA-set-fire-to-over-7-000-homes,39010|work=[[Sudan Tribune]]|date=24 May 2011|access-date=9 July 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629084946/https://www.sudantribune.com/SPLA-set-fire-to-over-7-000-homes,39010|archive-date=29 June 2011))</ref>

The UN reports many of these violations and the frustrated director of one Juba-based international aid agency calls them "human rights abuses off the [[Richter scale]]".<ref name=aljazeera /> In 2010, the [[CIA]] issued a warning that "over the next five years,...a new mass killing or [[genocide]] is most likely to occur in southern Sudan."<ref name=aljazeera /> The [[Nuer White Army]] has stated it wished to "[[genocide|wipe out]] the entire [[Murle people|Murle]] tribe on the face of the earth as the only solution to guarantee long-term security of Nuer's cattle"<ref name=Bloomberg /> and activists, including [[Minority Rights Group International]], warned of genocide in [[Jonglei]].<ref name=sudantribune2>((cite news|title=Activists warn of "genocide" in S.Sudan's Jonglei conflict|url=http://www.sudantribune.com/Activists-warn-of-genocide-in-S,41011|work=[[Sudan Tribune]]|date=16 December 2011|access-date=2 January 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111229111823/https://www.sudantribune.com/Activists-warn-of-genocide-in-S,41011|archive-date=29 December 2011))</ref> At the beginning of 2017, genocide was imminent again.<ref name="D+C">((cite news|title=Slinding towards genocide|url=https://www.dandc.eu/en/article/urgent-action-needed-south-sudan-deescalate-violent-conflict|work=D+C, development and cooperation|date=13 January 2017|access-date=27 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170228075409/https://www.dandc.eu/en/article/urgent-action-needed-south-sudan-deescalate-violent-conflict|archive-date=28 February 2017|url-status=live))</ref>

Peter Abdul Rahaman Sule, the leader of the key opposition group [[United Democratic Front (Sudan)|United Democratic Forum]], has been under arrest since 3 November 2011 over allegations linking him to the formation of a new rebel group fighting against the government.<ref>((cite news|title=S. Sudan's opposition leader arrested over rebel links|url=http://www.sudantribune.com/Breaking-News-S-Sudan-s-opposition,40624|work=Sudan Tribune|date=4 November 2011|access-date=17 November 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120704181314/http://www.sudantribune.com/Breaking-News-S-Sudan-s-opposition,40624|archive-date=4 July 2012))</ref><ref>((cite news|title=South Sudan arrests opposition leader turned rebel|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/11/04/175465.html|publisher=AlArabiya|date=4 November 2011|access-date=17 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120219001953/http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/11/04/175465.html|archive-date=19 February 2012|url-status=dead))</ref>

The [[child marriage]] rate in South Sudan is 52%.<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.icrw.org/child-marriage-facts-and-figures|title=Child Marriage Facts and Figures|access-date=1 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828070027/https://www.icrw.org/child-marriage-facts-and-figures/|archive-date=28 August 2018|url-status=live))</ref> [[LGBT rights in South Sudan|Homosexual acts]] are illegal.<ref>((cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/06/13/here-are-the-10-countries-where-homosexuality-may-be-punished-by-death-2/|title=Here are the 10 countries where homosexuality may be punished by death|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=16 June 2016|access-date=31 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161111064457/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/06/13/here-are-the-10-countries-where-homosexuality-may-be-punished-by-death-2/|archive-date=11 November 2016|url-status=live))</ref>

Recruitment of [[child soldier]]s has also been cited as a serious problem in the country.<ref>((Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-29762263|title=Child soldiers still being recruited in South Sudan|journal=BBC News|date=27 October 2014|last1=Burridge|first1=Tom|access-date=21 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010143340/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-29762263|archive-date=10 October 2018|url-status=live))</ref> In April 2014, [[Navi Pillay]], then the [[UN High Commissioner for Human Rights]], stated that more than 9,000 [[child soldiers]] had been fighting in South Sudan's [[civil war]].<ref>((Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-27220244|title=South Sudan sides 'recruit 9,000 children to fight'|journal=BBC News|date=30 April 2014|access-date=21 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010103854/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-27220244|archive-date=10 October 2018|url-status=live))</ref>

The United Nations rights office has described the situation in the country as "one of the most horrendous [[human rights]] situations in the world". It accused the army and allied militias of allowing fighters to rape women as form of payment for fighting, as well as raid cattle in an agreement of "do what you can, take what you can."<ref name=globalpost>((cite news|url=http://www.globalpost.com/article/6744906/2016/03/11/s-sudan-lets-fighters-rape-women-place-wages|title=South Sudan lets fighters rape women as payment|publisher=globalpost.com|access-date=24 May 2016|date=11 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160519113950/http://www.globalpost.com/article/6744906/2016/03/11/s-sudan-lets-fighters-rape-women-place-wages|archive-date=19 May 2016|url-status=live))</ref> [[Amnesty International]] claimed the army suffocated more than 60 people accused of supporting the opposition to death in a shipping container.<ref>((cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2016/03/10/469971475/amnesty-international-says-south-sudan-soldiers-suffocated-60-plus-men-and-boys|title=South Sudan Soldiers Suffocated 60-Plus Men And Boys, Report Says|website=NPR|date=10 March 2016|access-date=6 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114040226/https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2016/03/10/469971475/amnesty-international-says-south-sudan-soldiers-suffocated-60-plus-men-and-boys|archive-date=14 November 2017|url-status=live|last1=Beaubien|first1=Jason))</ref>

On 22 December 2017, at the conclusion of a 12-day visit to the region, the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan said, "Four years following the start of the current conflict in South Sudan, gross human rights violations continue to be committed in a widespread way by all parties to the conflict, in which civilians are bearing the brunt."<ref name="ohchr.org">((cite web|url=http://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=22562&LangID=E|title=OHCHR – UN human rights experts call for perpetrators of widespread human rights violations to be brought to justice in South Sudan|website=www.ohchr.org|access-date=23 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124071559/http://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=22562&LangID=E|archive-date=24 January 2018|url-status=live))</ref> The Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan was established by the Human Rights Council in March 2016.<ref name="ohchr.org"/>

== Geography ==
((Main|Geography of South Sudan))
((More citations needed section|date=July 2022))
[[File:South Sudan protected areas.svg|thumb|upright=1.3|Protected areas in South Sudan]]
South Sudan lies between latitudes [[3rd parallel north|3°]] and [[13th parallel north|13°N]], and longitudes [[24th meridian east|24°]] and [[36th meridian east|36°E]]. It is covered in tropical forest, swamps, and grassland. The [[White Nile]] passes through the country, passing by Juba.<ref name="BBC independence" />

South Sudan's protected area of [[Bandingilo National Park]] hosts the second-largest [[wildlife]] migration in the world. Surveys have revealed that [[Boma National Park]], west of the Ethiopian border, as well as the [[Sudd]] wetland and [[Southern National Park]] near the border with Congo, provided habitat for large populations of [[hartebeest]], [[kob]], [[topi]], [[African buffalo|buffalo]], elephants, giraffes, and lions.

South Sudan's forest reserves also provided habitat for [[Bongo (antelope)|bongo]], [[giant forest hog]]s, [[red river hog]]s, forest elephants, [[Common chimpanzee|chimpanzees]], and forest [[monkeys]]. Surveys begun in 2005 by [[Wildlife Conservation Society|WCS]] in partnership with the semi-autonomous government of Southern Sudan revealed that significant, though diminished wildlife populations still exist, and that, astonishingly, the huge migration of 1.3&nbsp;million antelopes in the southeast is substantially intact.

Habitats in the country include grasslands, high-altitude plateaus and escarpments, wooded and grassy savannas, floodplains, and wetlands. Associated wildlife species include the endemic white-eared kob and [[Nile Lechwe]], as well as elephants, giraffes, [[common eland]], [[giant eland]], [[oryx]], lions, [[Lycaon pictus|African wild dogs]], cape buffalo, and topi (locally called tiang). Little is known about the white-eared kob and tiang, both types of [[antelope]], whose magnificent migrations were legendary before the civil war. The Boma-Jonglei Landscape region encompasses Boma National Park, broad pasturelands and floodplains, Bandingilo National Park, and the Sudd, a vast area of swamp and seasonally flooded grasslands that includes the Zeraf Wildlife Reserve.

Little is known of the fungi of South Sudan. A list of fungi in Sudan was prepared by S. A. J. Tarr and published by the then [[Commonwealth Mycological Institute]] (Kew, Surrey, UK) in 1955. The list, of 383 species in 175 genera, included all fungi observed within the then boundaries of the country. Many of those records relate to what is now South Sudan. Most of the species recorded were associated with diseases of crops. The true number of species of fungi in South Sudan is probably much higher.

In 2006, President Kiir announced that his government would do everything possible to protect and propagate South Sudanese fauna and flora, and seek to reduce the effects of wildfires, waste dumping, and water pollution. The environment is threatened by the development of the economy and infrastructure. The country had a 2019 [[Forest Landscape Integrity Index]] mean score of 9.45/10, ranking it fourth globally out of 172 countries.<ref name="FLII-Supplementary">((cite journal|last1=Grantham|first1=H. S.|last2=Duncan|first2=A.|last3=Evans|first3=T. D.|last4=Jones|first4=K. R.|last5=Beyer|first5=H. L.|last6=Schuster|first6=R.|last7=Walston|first7=J.|last8=Ray|first8=J. C.|last9=Robinson|first9=J. G.|last10=Callow|first10=M.|last11=Clements|first11=T.|last12=Costa|first12=H. M.|last13=DeGemmis|first13=A.|last14=Elsen|first14=P. R.|last15=Ervin|first15=J.|last16=Franco|first16=P.|last17=Goldman|first17=E.|last18=Goetz|first18=S.|last19=Hansen|first19=A.|last20=Hofsvang|first20=E.|last21=Jantz|first21=P.|last22=Jupiter|first22=S.|last23=Kang|first23=A.|last24=Langhammer|first24=P.|last25=Laurance|first25=W. F.|last26=Lieberman|first26=S.|last27=Linkie|first27=M.|last28=Malhi|first28=Y.|last29=Maxwell|first29=S.|last30=Mendez|first30=M.|last31=Mittermeier|first31=R.|last32=Murray|first32=N. J.|last33=Possingham|first33=H.|last34=Radachowsky|first34=J.|last35=Saatchi|first35=S.|last36=Samper|first36=C.|last37=Silverman|first37=J.|last38=Shapiro|first38=A.|last39=Strassburg|first39=B.|last40=Stevens|first40=T.|last41=Stokes|first41=E.|last42=Taylor|first42=R.|last43=Tear|first43=T.|last44=Tizard|first44=R.|last45=Venter|first45=O.|last46=Visconti|first46=P.|last47=Wang|first47=S.|last48=Watson|first48=J. E. M.|display-authors=1|title=Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity – Supplementary Material|journal=Nature Communications|volume=11|issue=1|year=2020|page=5978|issn=2041-1723|doi=10.1038/s41467-020-19493-3|pmid=33293507|pmc=7723057|bibcode=2020NatCo..11.5978G|doi-access=free))</ref>

Several [[ecoregion]]s extend across South Sudan: the [[East Sudanian savanna]], [[Northern Congolian forest–savanna mosaic]], [[Saharan flooded grasslands]] (Sudd), [[Sahelian Acacia savanna]], [[East African montane forests]], and the [[Northern Acacia–Commiphora bushlands and thickets]].<ref>((cite book|last1=Burgess|first1=Neil|first2=Jennifer|last2=D'Amico Hales|first3= Emma|last3=Underwood|year=2004|title= Terrestrial Ecoregions of Africa and Madagascar: A Conservation Assessment|publisher= Island Press|place= Washington DC|isbn=978-1-55963-364-2))</ref>

=== Climate ===
[[File:Koppen-Geiger Map SSD present.svg|thumb|upright=1.35|South Sudan map of Köppen climate classification]]
South Sudan has a tropical climate, characterized by a rainy season of high humidity and large amounts of rainfall followed by a drier season. The temperature on average is always high with July being the coolest month with average temperatures falling between ((convert|68|and|86|F|C|order=flip)) and March being the warmest month with average temperatures ranging from ((convert|73|to|98|F|C|order=flip)).<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.weather-and-climate.com/average-monthly-Rainfall-Temperature-Sunshine,Juba,Sudan|title=Average weather in Juba, Sudan|work=weather-and-climate.com|access-date=19 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130915023106/http://www.weather-and-climate.com/average-monthly-Rainfall-Temperature-Sunshine,Juba,Sudan|archive-date=15 September 2013|url-status=live))</ref>

The most rainfall is seen between May and October, but the rainy season can commence in April and extend until November. On average May is the wettest month. The season is "influenced by the annual shift of the Inter-Tropical Zone"<ref name="factbook" /> and the shift to southerly and southwesterly winds leading to slightly lower temperatures, higher humidity, and more cloud coverage.<ref>((cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/373303|title=Weather: Juba|work=BBC|access-date=19 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140213155823/http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/373303|archive-date=13 February 2014|url-status=live))</ref>

===Wildlife===
((Main|Wildlife of South Sudan))

== Demographics ==
[[File:John Garang Mausoleum Square in Juba.JPG|thumb|John Garang Square in Juba]]
((Main|Demographics of South Sudan))
((see also|List of cities in South Sudan))

South Sudan has a population of approximately ((#expr:((formatnum:((UN_Population|South Sudan))|R))/1e6 round 0)) million((UN_Population|ref)) and a predominantly rural, subsistence economy. This region has been negatively affected by war for all but 10 of the years since 1956, resulting in serious neglect, lack of [[infrastructure]] development, and major destruction and displacement. More than 2 million people have died, and more than 4 million are [[internally displaced person]]s or became [[refugee]]s as a result of the civil war and its impact.

[[File:Children in Yambio, Western Equatoria, South Sudan (28 05 2009).jpg|thumb|Children in Yambio, Western Equatoria, South Sudan]]
[[File:USAID-funded Southern Sudan Interactive Radio Instruction project.jpg|thumb|Rural school children participating in the [[USAID]]-funded Southern Sudan Interactive Radio Instruction project, July 2010]]

=== Ethnic groups ===
The major [[ethnic group]]s present in South Sudan are the [[Dinka people|Dinka]] at approximately 40 percent of the population, the [[Nuer people|Nuer]] at approximately 20 percent, and the [[Azande]] at approximately 10 percent, as well as the [[Shilluk people|Shilluk]] and [[Bari people|Bari]].<ref>((cite web|url=https://www.med.virginia.edu/family-medicine/wp-content/uploads/sites/285/2018/12/Azobou_South-Sudan-Refugee-Crisis-112018.pdf|title=South Sudan Refugee Crisis|website=med.virginia.edu|language=en|access-date=October 1, 2018))</ref> Currently, around 800,000 expatriates from the [[Horn of Africa]] are living in South Sudan. ((cn|date=May 2023))

=== Education ===
((Main|Education in South Sudan))
Unlike the previous educational system of the regional Southern Sudan—which was modelled after the system used in the Republic of Sudan since 1990—the current educational system of the Republic of South Sudan follows the ((nowrap|8 + 4 + 4)) system (similar to Kenya). Primary education consists of eight years, followed by four years of [[secondary education]], and then four years of university instruction.

The primary language at all levels is English, as compared to the Republic of Sudan, where the [[language of instruction]] is [[Modern Standard Arabic|Arabic]]. In 2007, South Sudan adopted English as the [[official language]] of communication. There is a severe shortage of English teachers and English-speaking teachers in the scientific and technical fields.

On 1 October 2019, The South Sudan Library Foundation opened South Sudan's first public library, the Juba Public Peace Library in Gudele 2.<ref name="www.thechristiantimes.net">((cite web|url=http://www.thechristiantimes.net/index.php/s-sudan/19-education/2434-first-public-library-opens-in-south-sudan-advocates-for-peace|title=The Christian Times – First public library opens in South Sudan, advocates for peace|website=www.thechristiantimes.net|access-date=7 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191107132917/http://www.thechristiantimes.net/index.php/s-sudan/19-education/2434-first-public-library-opens-in-south-sudan-advocates-for-peace|archive-date=7 November 2019|url-status=live))</ref><ref name="med.virginia.edu">((cite web|url=https://audioboom.com/posts/7327847-instilling-a-culture-of-reading-south-sudan-looks-forward-to-new-public-library|title=Instilling a culture of reading; South Sudan looks forward to new public library|website=Audioboom|language=en|access-date=7 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191107132914/https://audioboom.com/posts/7327847-instilling-a-culture-of-reading-south-sudan-looks-forward-to-new-public-library|archive-date=7 November 2019|url-status=live))</ref> The library currently employs a staff of over 40 volunteers and maintains a collection of over 13,000 books.<ref name="med.virginia.edu" /> The South Sudan Library Foundation was co-founded by Yawusa Kintha and Kevin Lenahan.<ref name="www.thechristiantimes.net" /><ref name="med.virginia.edu" /><ref>((cite web|url=https://sydney.edu.au/business/news-and-events/news/2019/02/07/mba-student-establishes-ngo-to-improve-literacy-in-south-sudan.html|title=MBA student establishes NGO to improve literacy in South Sudan|website=The University of Sydney|language=en-AU|access-date=11 November 2019))</ref>

=== Languages ===
((Main|Languages of South Sudan))

The official language of South Sudan is English.<ref name="engwork" /> All indigenous languages spoken in South Sudan are national languages of which [[Dinka language|Dinka]], [[Nuer language|Nuer]], [[Murle language|Murle]], [[Luo languages|Luo]], [[Ma'di language|Ma'di]], [[Otuho language|Otuho]], and [[Zande language|Zande]] are the most widely spoken.

It has been proposed that [[Swahili language|Swahili]] be made a second official language, and it has been added to the curriculum to be taught at schools in South Sudan since they are part of the [[East African Community]].<ref>((Cite web|last=AfricaNews|date=2017-07-06|title=S. Sudan to adopt Swahili as official language, seeks Tanzania's help|url=https://www.africanews.com/2017/07/06/s-sudan-to-adopt-swahili-as-official-language-seeks-tanzania-s-help/|access-date=2022-04-08|website=Africanews|language=en))</ref>

There are over 60 [[indigenous language]]s, most classified under the [[Nilo-Saharan languages|Nilo-Saharan Language family]]; collectively, they represent two of the first-order divisions of [[Nilotic languages|Nile Sudanic]] and [[Central Sudanic languages|Central Sudanic]].

====Constitution updates====
The interim constitution of 2005 declared in Part 1, Chapter 1, No. 6 (1) that "[a]ll indigenous languages of Southern Sudan are [[national language]]s and shall be respected, developed and promoted." In Part 1, Chapter 1, No. 6 (2), it was stated that "English and [[Arabic]] shall be the official working languages at the level of the governments of Southern Sudan and the States as well as languages of instruction for higher education."<ref>[http://www.chr.up.ac.za/undp/domestic/docs/c_SouthernSudan.pdf ''The Interim Constitution of Southern Sudan'', 2005] ((Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303170713/http://www.chr.up.ac.za/undp/domestic/docs/c_SouthernSudan.pdf|date=3 March 2016)) (PDF; 484&nbsp;kB), Part One, Page.&nbsp;3–4, No. 6 (1), (2), retrieved 6 May 2017</ref>

The government of the new independent state later removed Arabic as an official language and chose English as the sole official language.

The new transitional constitution of the Republic of South Sudan of 2011 declares in Part 1, Chapter 1, No. 6 (1) that "[a]ll indigenous languages of South Sudan are national languages and shall be respected, developed and promoted." In Part 1, Chapter 1, No. 6 (2), it is defined that "English shall be the official working language in the Republic of South Sudan, as well as the language of instruction at all levels of education."<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.sudantribune.com/IMG/pdf/The_Draft_Transitional_Constitution_of_the_ROSS2-2.pdf|title=The Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan, 2011|access-date=6 May 2017|publisher=Government of South Sudan|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629170732/http://www.sudantribune.com/IMG/pdf/The_Draft_Transitional_Constitution_of_the_ROSS2-2.pdf|archive-date=29 June 2011|url-status=live)) Part One, Page 3, No. 6 (1), (2), retrieved 6 May 2017</ref>

On 6 July 2017, South Sudan stated that it might adopt Swahili as an additional official language due to its seeking [[Tanzania]]'s help to send Swahili teachers to the country as it introduces the language in school curriculum ahead of its possible adoption as an official language.<ref name="auto">((cite web|url=http://www.africanews.com/2017/07/06/s-sudan-to-adopt-swahili-as-official-language-seeks-tanzania-s-help/|title=S. Sudan to adopt Swahili as official language, seeks Tanzania's help – Africanews|last=AfricaNews|date=5 July 2017|access-date=7 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171008025942/http://www.africanews.com/2017/07/06/s-sudan-to-adopt-swahili-as-official-language-seeks-tanzania-s-help/|archive-date=8 October 2017|url-status=live))</ref>

====Some areas====
In the border region between [[Western Bahr el Ghazal]] [[States of South Sudan|state]] and Sudan are an indeterminate number of people from [[West Africa]]n countries who settled here on their way back from [[Mecca]] – who have assumed a traditionally [[nomadic]] life – that resides either seasonally or permanently. They primarily speak [[Chadic languages|Chadian languages]] and their traditional territories are in the southern portions of the Sudanese regions of Northern [[Kurdufan]] and [[Darfur]].

In the capital, Juba, there are several thousand people who use non-classical Arabic, usually a pidgin called [[Juba Arabic]], but South Sudan's ambassador to [[Kenya]] said on 2 August 2011 that [[Swahili language|Swahili]] will be introduced in South Sudan with the goal of supplanting Arabic as a ''[[lingua franca]]'', in keeping with the country's intention of orientation toward the [[East African Community]] rather than Sudan and the [[Arab League]].<ref>((cite news|url=http://assistamerica.countrywatch.com/rcountry.aspx?vcountry=89&topic=CBWIR&uid=5271402|agency=Xinhua|date=2 August 2011|access-date=16 September 2013|title=South Sudanese still in Kenya despite new state|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150411015341/http://assistamerica.countrywatch.com/rcountry.aspx?vcountry=89|archive-date=11 April 2015))</ref> Nevertheless, South Sudan submitted an application to join the Arab League as a [[Member states of the Arab League|member state]] on 25 March 2014, which is still pending.<ref>[[Middle East Monitor]]: [https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20140412-south-sudan-and-chad-apply-to-join-the-arab-league ''South Sudan and Chad apply to join the Arab League''] ((Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913231309/https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20140412-south-sudan-and-chad-apply-to-join-the-arab-league/|date=13 September 2017)), 12 April 2014, retrieved 3 May 2017</ref> In an interview with the newspaper [[Asharq Al-Awsat]], the Foreign Minister of South Sudan [[Deng Alor Kuol]] said: South Sudan is the closest African country to the [[Arab world]], and we speak a special kind of Arabic known as Juba Arabic.<ref>[[Asharq Al-Awsat]]: [http://english.aawsat.com/ahmedyounis/interviews/foreign-minister-south-sudan-considering-joining-arab-league ''Foreign Minister of South Sudan: We Are Considering Joining the Arab League''] ((webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913233152/https://english.aawsat.com/ahmedyounis/interviews/foreign-minister-south-sudan-considering-joining-arab-league|date=13 September 2017)), 7 June 2016, retrieved 3 May 2017</ref> Sudan supports South Sudan's request to join the Arab League.<ref>[[Sudan Tribune]]: [http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article59689 ''Khartoum supports South Sudan demand to join Arab League''] ((Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018103721/http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article59689|date=18 October 2017)), 21 July 2016, retrieved 3 May 2017</ref> Juba Arabic is a [[lingua franca]] in South Sudan.<ref>[https://www.unicef.org/esaro/UNICEF(2016)LanguageandLearning-SouthSudan-CaseStudy.pdf ''The impact of language policy and practice on children's learning: Evidence from Eastern and Southern Africa 2016''] ((Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913183348/https://www.unicef.org/esaro/UNICEF(2016)LanguageandLearning-SouthSudan-CaseStudy.pdf|date=13 September 2017)) (PDF; 672&nbsp;kB), Page.&nbsp;1, retrieved 20 May 2017</ref>

=== Population ===
==== 2008 census ====
[[File:South Sudan 034.jpg|thumb|upright|Woman in South Sudan]]
[[File:Village in South Sudan.jpg|thumb|A village in South Sudan]]

The "Fifth Population and Housing Census of Sudan", for Sudan as a whole, was conducted in April 2008. The census counted the Southern Sudan population at 8.26&nbsp;million;<ref name="n24">((cite news|url=http://www.news24.com/World/News/Discontent-over-Sudan-census-20090521|title=Discontent over Sudan census|date=21 May 2009|work=News24.com|access-date=14 July 2011|agency=AFP|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713214109/http://www.news24.com/World/News/Discontent-over-Sudan-census-20090521|archive-date=13 July 2011|url-status=live))</ref><ref name="epro">((cite news|url=http://www.enoughproject.org/blogs/s-sudan-census-bureau-releases-official-results-amidst-ongoing-census-controversy|title=S. Sudan Census Bureau Releases Official Results Amidst Ongoing Census Controversy|work=!enough The project to end genocide and crimes against humanity|date=8 June 2009|first=Maggie|last=Fick|access-date=3 December 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140717031826/http://www.enoughproject.org/blogs/s-sudan-census-bureau-releases-official-results-amidst-ongoing-census-controversy|archive-date=17 July 2014|url-status=live))</ref> however, Southern Sudanese officials rejected the census results of Southern Sudan because "the central bureau of statistics in [[Khartoum]] refused to share the national Sudan raw census data with the southern Sudan centre for census, statistics and evaluation."<ref>((cite news|url=http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article31746|title=South Sudan parliament throws out census results|work=SudanTribune|date=8 July 2009|access-date=3 December 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712230242/http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article31746|archive-date=12 July 2014|url-status=live))</ref>

In addition, President Kiir "suspected figures were being deflated in some regions and inflated in others, and that made the final tally 'unacceptable'."<ref name="newvis">((cite news|url=http://www.newsudanvision.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1677:southern-sudanese-officials-decry-unfortunate-announcement-of-census-results&catid=1:sudan-news-stories&Itemid=6|title=South Sudanese officials decry 'unfortunate' announcement of census results|work=The New Sudan Vision|date=10 May 2009|first=Marvis|last=Birungi|access-date=3 December 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714174659/http://www.newsudanvision.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1677:southern-sudanese-officials-decry-unfortunate-announcement-of-census-results&catid=1:sudan-news-stories&Itemid=6|archive-date=14 July 2011|url-status=dead))</ref> He claimed that the Southern Sudanese population actually constituted one-third of that of Sudan, though the census showed it to be only 22%.<ref name="epro" />

Many southern Sudanese were also said to have been uncounted "due to bad weather, poor communication and transport networks, and some areas were unreachable, while many southern Sudanese remained in exile in neighbouring countries, leading to 'unacceptable results', according [to] southern Sudanese authorities."<ref name="newvis" /> The chief American technical adviser for the census in the south said that the census-takers probably reached only 89% of the population.<ref>((cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103124761|title=Ethnic Divisions Complicate Sudan's Census|work=NPR|first=Gwen|last=Thompkins|date=15 April 2009|access-date=6 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109134348/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103124761|archive-date=9 November 2017|url-status=live))</ref>

==== 2009 census ====
In 2009, Sudan initiated a Southern Sudanese census ahead of the [[2011 South Sudanese independence referendum|2011 independence referendum]], which would also include the [[South Sudanese diaspora]]; however, this initiative was criticised for leaving out countries with a high share of the South Sudanese diaspora, rather counting countries where the diaspora share was low.<ref>((cite news|url=http://www.rnw.nl/africa/article/south-sudan-claims-northern-sudans-census-dishonest|title=South Sudan says Northern Sudan's census dishonest|work=Radio Nederland Wereldomroep|date=6 November 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724170053/http://www.rnw.nl/africa/article/south-sudan-claims-northern-sudans-census-dishonest|archive-date=24 July 2011))</ref>

=== Largest cities ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:50em"
|-
! colspan=5| Largest cities or towns in South Sudan<br />((nobold|According to the 2008 Census<ref>((cite web|title=South Sudan: States, Major Cities & Towns - Population Statistics in Maps and Charts|url=http://citypopulation.de/SouthSudan-Cities.html|website=citypopulation.de))</ref>))
|-
! Rank
! [[List of cities in South Sudan|Name]]
! [[States of South Sudan|State]]
! Pop.
| rowspan=11 style="text-align: center"| [[File:Juba City.jpg|border|120px|Juba]]<br>[[Juba]]<br />[[File:Wau, Sudan - panoramio.jpg|border|120px|Wau]]<br>[[Wau, South Sudan|Wau]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;"| 1|| style="text-align:left;"| [[Juba]]|| style="text-align:left;"| [[Central Equatoria]]|| style="text-align:right;"| 230,195
|-
| style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;"| 2|| style="text-align:left;"| [[Wau, South Sudan|Wau]]|| style="text-align:left;"| [[Western Bahr el Ghazal]]|| style="text-align:right;"| 118,331
|-
| style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;"| 3|| style="text-align:left;"| [[Malakal]]|| style="text-align:left;"| [[Upper Nile (state)|Upper Nile]]|| style="text-align:right;"| 114,528
|-
| style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;"| 4|| style="text-align:left;"| [[Yambio]]|| style="text-align:left;"| [[Western Equatoria]]|| style="text-align:right;"| 105,881
|-
| style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;"| 5|| style="text-align:left;"| [[Yei, South Sudan|Yei]]|| style="text-align:left;"| [[Central Equatoria]]|| style="text-align:right;"| 69,720
|-
| style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;"| 6|| style="text-align:left;"| [[Renk, South Sudan|Renk]]|| style="text-align:left;"| [[Upper Nile (state)|Upper Nile]]|| style="text-align:right;"| 69,079
|-
| style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;"| 7|| style="text-align:left;"| [[Aweil, South Sudan|Aweil]]|| style="text-align:left;"| [[Northern Bahr el Ghazal]]|| style="text-align:right;"| 59,217
|-
| style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;"| 8|| style="text-align:left;"| [[Maridi]]|| style="text-align:left;"| [[Western Equatoria]]|| style="text-align:right;"| 55,602
|-
| style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;"| 9|| style="text-align:left;"| [[Bentiu]]|| style="text-align:left;"| [[Unity State|Unity]]|| style="text-align:right;"| 41,328
|-
| style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;"| 10|| style="text-align:left;"| [[Bor, South Sudan|Bor]]|| style="text-align:left;"| [[Jonglei State|Jonglei]]|| style="text-align:right;"| 25,188
|-
|}

=== Religion ===
((Main|Religion in South Sudan))
[[File:Yirol Church.jpg|thumb|[[Catholic Church in South Sudan|Holy Cross Cathedral]] in [[Lakes State]].]]
Religions followed by the [[South Sudanese]] include traditional [[indigenous religion]]s, [[Christianity]] and [[Islam]].<ref>((cite news|title=South Sudan's Muslims welcome secession|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=169306|newspaper=The Daily Star|date=9 January 2011|access-date=16 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024203009/http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=169306|archive-date=24 October 2012|url-status=live))</ref><ref>((cite news|title=South Sudan profile|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14069082|newspaper=BBC News|date=8 July 2011|access-date=9 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708021732/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14069082|archive-date=8 July 2011|url-status=live))</ref> The last [[census]] to mention the religion of southerners dates back to 1956 where a majority were classified as following traditional beliefs or were [[Christians|Christian]] while 18% were [[Muslim]].<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=169306|title=South Sudan's Muslims welcome secession|publisher=[[Agence France-Presse]]|access-date=15 August 2011|date=8 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024203009/http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=169306|archive-date=24 October 2012|url-status=live))</ref> 

The [[Federal Research Division]] of the US [[Library of Congress]] states that "in the early 1990s possibly no more than 10% of southern Sudan's population was Christian".<ref>((cite web|url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/sdtoc.html|title=Sudan: A Country Study; Ethnicity, Regionalism and Ethnicity|publisher=Federal Research Division, Library of Congress|access-date=10 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110114012212/http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/sdtoc.html|archive-date=14 January 2011|url-status=bot: unknown))</ref> In the early 1990s, official records of Sudan claimed that the population of what was then included as South Sudan, 25% of people followed traditional religions and 5% were Christians.<ref>((cite book|title=Geographica. The Complete Illustrated Atlas of the world| year=1999|page= 336))</ref> 

Scholarly<ref>((cite book|first=Eric|last=Kaufmann|title=Rethinking ethnicity: majority groups and dominant minorities|publisher=Routledge|year= 2004|page=45|isbn=978-0-203-56339-7|author-link=Eric Kaufmann))</ref><ref>((cite book|author=Minahan, J.|title=Encyclopedia of the Stateless Nations: S-Z|publisher= Greenwood Press|year= 2002|page=1786|isbn=978-0-313-32384-3))</ref><ref>((cite journal|author=Arnold, G|title=Book Review: Douglas H. Johnson, The Root Causes of Sudan's Civil Wars| journal=African Journal of Political Science|volume=8|year=2003| page=147|issue=1))</ref> and some [[United States Department of State|U.S. Department of State]] sources<ref name="US_State_Dept">((cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5424.htm|title=Sudan|publisher=State.gov|access-date=21 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802172914/https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5424.htm|archive-date=2 August 2018|url-status=live))</ref> stated that a majority of southern Sudanese maintained traditional indigenous ([[Animism|animist]]) beliefs at the start of the century, with those following Christianity in a minority. 

According to the ''[[World Christian Encyclopedia]]'', the [[Catholic Church]] is the largest single Christian body in Sudan since 1995, with 2.7 million Catholics mainly concentrated in South Sudan.<ref>((cite book|title=World Christian Encyclopedia|editor-first1= David|editor-last1= Barrett|editor-first2= George|editor-last2= Kurian|editor-first3= Todd|editor-last3= Johnson|place=Oxford|publisher= Oxford University Press|year= 2001| pages= 699–700))</ref> The [[Episcopal Church (United States)|US Episcopal Church]] claims the existence of large numbers of [[Anglican Communion|Anglican adherents]] from the [[Episcopal Church of South Sudan]] with 2 million members in 2005.<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.fwepiscopal.org/downloads/howmanyanglicans.pdf|title=How many Anglicans are there in the Anglican Church in North America?|access-date=2 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304073614/http://www.fwepiscopal.org/downloads/howmanyanglicans.pdf|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=live))</ref> The [[Presbyterian Church in Sudan]] is the third largest denomination in South Sudan. It has about one million members in 500 congregations in 2012.<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.oikoumene.org/gr/member-churches/regions/africa/south-sudan/presbyterian-church-of-the-sudan.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120520124842/http://www.oikoumene.org/gr/member-churches/regions/africa/south-sudan/presbyterian-church-of-the-sudan.html|archive-date=20 May 2012|title=Presbyterian Church of the Sudan|date=20 May 2012|access-date=21 December 2013))</ref>

A 18 December 2012 report on religion and public life by the [[Pew Research Center]] states that in 2010, 60.5% of South Sudan's population was Christian, 32.9% were followers of traditional African religion and 6.2% were Muslim.<ref>((cite web|url=http://features.pewforum.org/grl/population-percentage.php|title=Global Religious Landscape Table&nbsp;— Percent of Population&nbsp;— Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life|publisher=Features.pewforum.org|date=18 December 2012|access-date=21 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130101080244/http://features.pewforum.org/grl/population-percentage.php|archive-date=1 January 2013|url-status=live))</ref> Some publishers described the conflicts prior to partition as a Muslim-Christian war, but others reject this notion, claiming Muslim and Christian sides sometimes overlapped.<ref>((cite book|last1=Pat|first1=Mr|title=Christians Under Siege|date=2009|page=105))</ref>

Speaking at [[St. Theresa Cathedral, Juba|St Theresa Cathedral]] in [[Juba]] in 2011, the new [[South Sudanese]] [[President of South Sudan|President]] [[Salva Kiir Mayardit|Kiir]], a Roman Catholic, said that South Sudan would be a nation that respects [[freedom of religion]].<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.sudanradio.org/south-sudan-respect-freedom-religion-says-goss-president|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110712011904/http://www.sudanradio.org/south-sudan-respect-freedom-religion-says-goss-president|archive-date=12 July 2011|title=South Sudan To Respect Freedom of Religion Says GOSS President|work=Sudan Radio Service, Sudanradio.org|date=21 February 2011|access-date=9 July 2011))</ref> At the creation of the new country, most Christians were [[Catholic]] or [[Anglican Church|Anglican]] and [[Animism|animist]] beliefs were often [[Religious syncretism|blended]] with [[Christian]] beliefs.<ref>((cite web|url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/sdtoc.html|title=Sudan : Country Studies&nbsp;— Federal Research Division, Library of Congress|publisher=Lcweb2.loc.gov|date=22 March 2011|access-date=21 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023212053/http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/sdtoc.html#sd0065|archive-date=23 October 2013|url-status=bot: unknown))</ref>

====2020s====
In 2022 the majority of the population (60.5%) adhered to Christianity, while 33% followed indigenous religions and 6% followed Islam.<ref name=US2022>[https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-report-on-international-religious-freedom/south-sudan US State Dept 2022 report]</ref><ref>((cite web|last=Hurd|first=Emma|url=http://news.sky.com/story/835953/southern-sudan-votes-to-split-from-north|title=Southern Sudan Votes To Split From North|publisher=News.sky.com|date=8 February 2011|access-date=21 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031042419/http://news.sky.com/story/835953/southern-sudan-votes-to-split-from-north|archive-date=31 October 2013|url-status=live))</ref>

Most Christians were Catholic; in 2020, Catholics made up 52% of the country's population.<ref>[https://www.catholicsandcultures.org/south-sudan  Catholics and Culture website, retrieved 2023-08-08]</ref>

In 2022 the new Catholic bishop of [[Rumbek]], [[Christian Carlassare]], stated that "More than half the population of South Sudan is Christian, only 8% are Muslim. Other groups live on the margins, and have not drawn close to the Gospel. However, we live in a country where Christianity is often no more than skin deep, it hasn't grown roots in the life of the population".<ref>((Cite web|last=ACN|date=2022-04-04|title=New bishop in South Sudan: "We must get back on our feet and give hope to the people"|url=https://acninternational.org/new-bishop-in-south-sudan-attacked/|access-date=2022-11-15|website=ACN International|language=en-US))</ref>

=== Diaspora ===
((Main|South Sudanese diaspora))
The South Sudanese diaspora consists of citizens of South Sudan residing abroad. The number of South Sudanese outside South Sudan has sharply increased since the beginning of the struggle for independence from [[Sudan]]. Almost one and a half million South Sudanese have left the country as refugees, either permanently or as temporary workforce, leading to the establishment of the South Sudanese diaspora population.((Citation needed|date=March 2021))

The largest communities of the South Sudanese diaspora are located in North America, Western Europe and Oceania. They can be found in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Australia. Small communities exist in France, Italy, Germany, Sweden, and New Zealand.<ref>((Cite web|title=Sveriges flyktingkvot|url=https://www.migrationsverket.se/Om-Migrationsverket/Vart-uppdrag/Sveriges-flyktingkvot.html|access-date=2021-10-19|website=www.migrationsverket.se|language=sv))</ref>

Activist Achol Jok Mach has spoken out about growing up and growing up in a diaspora community and the effect on her identity, saying: "I was only ever told, "You are South Sudanese"... It was only much later that I learned I was [[Dinka people|Dinka]]."<ref>((Cite book|last=Martell|first=Peter|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BAuXDwAAQBAJ&q=Achol+Jok+Mach&pg=PA199|title=First Raise a Flag: How South Sudan Won the Longest War But Lost the Peace|date=15 May 2019|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-005270-6|language=en))</ref>

== Culture ==
((Main|Culture of South Sudan|Tourism in South Sudan))
[[File:South Sudan 012.jpg|thumb|[[Scarification|Scarified]] tribeswoman, South Sudan, 2011]]
Due to the many years of civil war, South Sudan's culture is heavily influenced by its neighbours. Many South Sudanese fled to Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda where they interacted with the nationals and learned their languages and culture. Most of those who remained in Sudan until or after independence partially assimilated to Sudanese culture and speak [[Juba Arabic]] or [[Sudanese Arabic]].

Most South Sudanese value knowing one's tribal origin, its traditional culture and [[dialect]] even while in exile and [[diaspora]]. Although the common languages spoken are Juba Arabic and English, [[Swahili language|Swahili]] might be introduced to the population to improve the country's relations with its [[East Africa]]n neighbours.((Citation needed|date=April 2022))

=== Music ===
Many music artists from South Sudan use English, Swahili, Juba Arabic, their native African language or a mix of all. Popular artists like Barbz, [[Yaba Angelosi]], De Peace Child sing [[Afro-beat]], [[R&B]], and [[Zouk (musical movement)|Zouk]]; [[Dynamq]] is popular for his [[reggae]] releases; and Emmanuel Kembe who sings [[Folk music|folk]], reggae and Afro-beat.<ref>((Cite web |title=South Sudan's Music Identity by Mawa Minga |url=https://www.andariya.com/post/south-sudan-s-music-identity |access-date=2024-01-23 |website=Andariya))</ref> Also hip hop artists like [[Emmanuel Jal]], FTG Metro, Flizzame and Dugga Mulla (of FMG). Emmanuel being one of the South Sudaneses music artists who have broken through on an international level<ref>((cite web|url=http://worldmusic.nationalgeographic.com/view/page.basic/artist/content.artist/emmanuel_jal/en_US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091027025559/http://worldmusic.nationalgeographic.com/view/page.basic/artist/content.artist/emmanuel_jal/en_US|archive-date=27 October 2009|title=Emmanuel Jal: National Geographic World Music|access-date=21 December 2013))</ref> with his unique form of [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] and a positive message in his lyrics.<ref>((cite news|last=Stevenson|first=Jane|url=http://www.torontosun.com/2012/08/08/emmanuel-jal-uses-music-as-therapy|title=Emmanuel Jal uses music as therapy &#124; Music &#124; Entertainment|newspaper=Toronto Sun|date=8 August 2012|access-date=21 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101183859/http://www.torontosun.com/2012/08/08/emmanuel-jal-uses-music-as-therapy|archive-date=1 November 2012|url-status=live))</ref> Jal, a former [[child soldier]] turned musician, received good airplay and album reviews in the UK<ref>((cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/g9zf|title=Music&nbsp;— Review of Emmanuel Jal&nbsp;— Warchild|publisher=BBC|date=1 January 1970|access-date=21 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010131912/http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/g9zf|archive-date=10 October 2014|url-status=live))</ref> and has also been sought out for the lecture circuit with major talks at popular talkfests like [[TED (conference)|TED]].<ref>((cite web|author=TEDGlobal 2009|url=http://www.ted.com/talks/emmanuel_jal_the_music_of_a_war_child.html|title=Emmanuel Jal: The music of a war child &#124; Video on|publisher=Ted.com|access-date=21 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818162134/http://www.ted.com/talks/emmanuel_jal_the_music_of_a_war_child.html|archive-date=18 August 2012|url-status=live))</ref>

=== Games and sports ===
((Main|Sport in South Sudan))
[[File:Luol Deng Wizards.jpg|right|thumb|South Sudanese-born basketball player [[Luol Deng]]]]
Many traditional and modern games and sports are popular in South Sudan, particularly wrestling and mock battles. The traditional sports were mainly played after the harvest seasons to celebrate the harvests and finish the farming seasons. During the matches, they smeared themselves with [[ochre]]&nbsp;– perhaps to enhance the grip or heighten their perception. The matches attracted large numbers of spectators who sang, played drums and danced in support of their favourite wrestlers. Though these were perceived as competition, they were primarily for entertainment.<ref>((cite book|title=Sudan in Pictures|last=DiPiazza|first=Francesca|year=2006|publisher=21st-century Books|isbn=978-0-8225-2678-0|page=54|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jaLr4YpUHGUC&pg=PA54|access-date=14 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202093506/https://books.google.com/books?id=jaLr4YpUHGUC&pg=PA54|archive-date=2 February 2016|url-status=live))</ref>

[[Association football]] is also becoming popular in South Sudan, and there are many initiatives by the Government of South Sudan and other partners to promote the sport and improve the level of play. One of these initiatives is South Sudan Youth Sports Association (SSYSA). SSYSA is already holding football clinics in Konyokonyo and Muniki areas of Juba in which young boys are coached. In recognition of these efforts with youth football, the country recently hosted the [[Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations|CECAFA]] youth football competitions. Barely a month earlier, it had also hosted the larger East African Schools Sports tournaments.((Citation needed|date=May 2012))

The [[South Sudan national football team|South Sudan national association football team]] joined the [[Confederation of African Football]] in February 2012 and became a full [[FIFA]] member in May 2012.<ref>((cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18210048|title=South Sudan joins Fifa 10 months after independence|work=BBC News|date=25 May 2012|access-date=27 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120527120415/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18210048|archive-date=27 May 2012|url-status=live))</ref> The team played its first match against [[Tusker FC]] of the [[Kenyan Premier League]] on 10 July 2011 in Juba as part of independence celebrations,<ref name="sports" /> scoring early but losing 1–3 to the more experienced team.<ref>((cite news|url=http://www.sknvibes.com/news/newsdetails.cfm/33538|agency=SKNVibes|date=10 July 2011|access-date=10 July 2011|title=S. Sudan team kicks off to a good start, then collapses|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927115839/http://www.sknvibes.com/news/newsdetails.cfm/33538|archive-date=27 September 2011|url-status=live))</ref> Famous South Sudanese footballers are [[Machop Chol]], [[James Moga]], [[Richard Justin]], [[Athir Thomas]], [[Goma Genaro Awad]], [[Khamis Leyano]], [[Khamis Martin]], William Afani Clicks and [[Roy Gulwak]].

The South Sudanese can boast links to top basketball players. [[Luol Deng]] was a [[National Basketball Association]] star in the United States; at the international level, he represented [[Great Britain national basketball team|Great Britain]]. Other leading international basketball players from South Sudan include [[Manute Bol]], [[Kueth Duany]], [[Deng Gai]], [[Ater Majok]], [[Wenyen Gabriel]], and [[Thon Maker]]. The [[South Sudan national basketball team]] played its first match against the [[Uganda national basketball team]] on 10 July 2011 in Juba.<ref name="sports">((cite news|url=http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/basketball/worlds-newest-nation-set-to-step-into-sporting-arena/451201|title=World's Newest Nation Set to Step into Sporting Arena|newspaper=The Jakarta Globe|date=6 July 2011|access-date=21 December 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927093457/http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/basketball/worlds-newest-nation-set-to-step-into-sporting-arena/451201|archive-date=27 September 2012))</ref>

One athlete from South Sudan, [[Guor Marial]], competed in the [[2012 Summer Olympics]]. Due to South Sudan not as yet possessing an official Olympics organization, and Marial not yet possessing American citizenship, he, along with three athletes from the former [[Netherlands Antilles]], competed under the banner of [[Independent Olympic Athletes at the 2012 Summer Olympics|Independent Olympic Athletes]].

On 2 August at the 128th IOC Session, South Sudan was granted full recognition of its [[South Sudan National Olympic Committee|National Olympic Committee]]. [[South Sudan at the 2016 Summer Olympics|South Sudan competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics]] with three athletes in track and field. No medals were won during this Olympics.<ref>((cite web|url=https://www.rio2016.com/en/south-sudan|title=South Sudan|website=Rio 2016|access-date=18 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161125235855/https://www.rio2016.com/en/south-sudan|archive-date=25 November 2016|url-status=live))</ref>

== Economy ==
((Main|Economy of South Sudan))
((See also|List of companies based in South Sudan))
[[File:South Sudan Product Exports (2019).svg|thumb|right|A proportional representation of South Sudan exports, 2019]]
[[File:Loka west teak.jpg|thumb|right|Loka Teaks is the largest [[teak]] [[plantation]] in Africa.((citation needed|date=October 2012))]]
The economy of South Sudan is one of the world's most underdeveloped,<ref name=":0">((Cite news |date=2023-12-20 |title=On safari in the world's most dangerous country |newspaper=The Economist |url=https://www.economist.com/interactive/christmas-specials/2023/12/20/on-safari-in-the-worlds-most-dangerous-county |access-date=2024-01-03 |issn=0013-0613))</ref> with South Sudan having little existing infrastructure and the highest maternal mortality and female illiteracy rates in the world ((As of|2011|lc=y)).<ref name=cnn>((cite news|title=South Sudanese celebrate the birth of their nation|first1=Nima|last1=Elbagir|first2=Faith|last2=Karimi|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/07/09/sudan.new.nation/index.html|work=[[CNN]]|date=9 July 2011|access-date=9 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710164855/http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/07/09/sudan.new.nation/index.html|archive-date=10 July 2011|url-status=live))</ref> South Sudan exports timber to the international market. The region also contains many natural resources such as [[petroleum]], [[iron ore]], [[copper]], [[chromium]] ore, [[zinc]], [[tungsten]], [[mica]], [[silver]], [[gold]], [[diamonds]], [[hardwoods]], [[limestone]] and [[hydropower]].<ref>((cite web|url= https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2111.html|title= Natural resources|work= CIA World Factbook|access-date= 2 February 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120129052947/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2111.html|archive-date= 29 January 2012|url-status= dead|df= dmy-all))</ref> The country's economy, as in many other developing countries, is heavily dependent on agriculture.

Other than natural resources-based companies, other such organisations include [[Southern Sudan Beverages Limited]], a subsidiary of [[SABMiller]].

=== Oil ===
The oilfields in South Sudan have been significant to the economy since the latter part of the 20th century. In 2023, oil constitutes more than 90% of state revenues.<ref name=":0" /> The country has the third-largest [[oil reserves]] in [[Sub-Saharan Africa]].<ref name="oil" /> However, after South Sudan became an independent nation in July 2011, southern and northern negotiators were not immediately able to reach an agreement on how to split the revenue from these southern oilfields.<ref>((cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/10/world/africa/10sudan.html?_r=1&hp=&adxnnl=1&pagewanted=2&adxnnlx=1310234502-5nvX4GUBg0fK28Wp4PYaEA|title=After Years of Struggle, South Sudan Becomes a New Nation|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=9 July 2011|first=Jeffrey|last=Gettleman|access-date=28 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222195809/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/10/world/africa/10sudan.html?_r=1&hp=&adxnnl=1&pagewanted=2&adxnnlx=1310234502-5nvX4GUBg0fK28Wp4PYaEA|archive-date=22 February 2017|url-status=live))</ref>

[[File:Sudan Map Oelgas.png|thumb|upright=1.15|Oil and gas concessions in Sudan – 2004]]

It is estimated that South Sudan has around 4 times the oil deposits of Sudan. The oil revenues, according to the [[Comprehensive Peace Agreement]] (CPA), were split equally for the duration of the agreement period.<ref name="pulitzercenter.org" /> Since South Sudan relies on pipelines, [[oil refinery|refineries]], and [[Port Sudan]]'s facilities in [[Red Sea (state)|Red Sea]] state in Sudan, the agreement stated that the [[government of Sudan|government]] of Sudan in [[Khartoum]] would receive a 50% share of all oil revenues.<ref name="pulitzercenter.org">((cite web|first=Rebecca|last=Hamilton|url=http://pulitzercenter.org/articles/southern-sudanese-say-independence-vote-will-improve-life|title=Southern Sudanese Independence: High Hopes, Huge Obstacles|publisher=Pulitzer Center|date=28 November 2010|access-date=21 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140425010705/http://pulitzercenter.org/articles/southern-sudanese-say-independence-vote-will-improve-life|archive-date=25 April 2014|url-status=live))</ref><ref name="hours">((cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/southern-sudan-independence-2011-7|agency=Business Insider|title=Oil-Rich South Sudan Has Hours To Choose Between North Sudan, China and the U.S|first=Vincent|last=Trivett|date=8 July 2011|access-date=9 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710020507/http://www.businessinsider.com/southern-sudan-independence-2011-7|archive-date=10 July 2011|url-status=live))</ref> This arrangement was maintained during the [[Autonomous Government of Southern Sudan|second period of autonomy]] from 2005 to 2011.

In the run up to independence, northern negotiators reportedly pressed for a deal maintaining the 50–50 split of oil revenues, while the South Sudanese were holding out for more favourable terms.<ref name="hours" /> Oil revenues constitute more than 98% of the government of South Sudan's budget according to the southern government's Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and this has amounted to more than $8 billion in revenue since the signing of the peace agreement.<ref name="pulitzercenter.org" />

After independence, South Sudan objected to Sudan charging US$34 per [[Barrel (unit)|barrel]] to transport oil through the pipeline to the oil terminal at Port Sudan. With production of around 30,000 barrels per day, this was costing over a million dollars per day. In January 2012, South Sudan suspended oil production, causing a dramatic reduction in revenue and food costs to rise by 120%.<ref>((cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/happy-birthday-south-sudan-7912244.html|title=Happy Birthday South Sudan?|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|first=Ros|last=Wynne-Jones|date=7 July 2012|access-date=9 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120709013201/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/happy-birthday-south-sudan-7912244.html|archive-date=9 July 2012|url-status=live))</ref> In 2017, [[Nile Drilling & Services]] became South Sudan's first locally owned and run petroleum drilling company.

[[China National Petroleum Corporation]] (CNPC) is a major investor in South Sudan's oil sector.<ref name="oil">"[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-southsudan-unrest-china-idUSBRE9BJ0FV20131220 China to evacuate South Sudan oil workers to capital] ((Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924191913/http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/20/us-southsudan-unrest-china-idUSBRE9BJ0FV20131220|date=24 September 2015))". Reuters. 20 December 2013.</ref> South Sudan's economy is under pressure to diversify away from oil as oil reserves will likely halve by 2020 if no new finds are made, according to the [[International Monetary Fund]] (IMF).<ref>((cite news|url=http://farmlandgrab.org/post/view/19806|title=S.Sudan seeks food and farmland investments|agency=Reuters|date=23 December 2011|access-date=15 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121032826/http://farmlandgrab.org/post/view/19806|archive-date=21 January 2012|url-status=live))</ref>((Needs update|date=August 2023))

=== Debt ===
In terms of South Sudan's external debt, Sudan and South Sudan maintain a shared debt of approximately US$38 billion, all of which has accumulated throughout the past five decades.<ref>((cite web|last=Badawi|first=Ahmad|date=3 October 2011|url=http://africanarguments.org/2011/10/03/a-greek-tragedy-is-sudan%E2%80%99s-woe-sudan-should-be-relieved-of-foreign-debt-by-ahmed-badawi/|title=A Greek Tragedy is Sudan's Woe: Sudan Must be Relieved of Foreign Debt Quickly|publisher=African Arguments|access-date=28 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329101159/http://africanarguments.org/2011/10/03/a-greek-tragedy-is-sudan%e2%80%99s-woe-sudan-should-be-relieved-of-foreign-debt-by-ahmed-badawi/|archive-date=29 March 2012|url-status=live))</ref> Though a small portion of this debt is owed to such international institutions as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (approximately US$5.3 billion according to a 2009 report provided by the Bank of Sudan), the bulk of its debt load is actually owed to numerous foreign actors that have provided the nation with financial loans, including the [[Paris Club]] (over US$11 billion) and also non-Paris Club bilateral creditors (over US$13 billion).<ref>((cite web|last=Leo|first=Benjamin|year=2009|url=http://www.cgdev.org/content/publications/detail/1424644|title=Sudan Debt Dynamics: Status Quo, Southern Secession, Debt Division, and Oil&nbsp;– a Financial Framework for the Future|publisher=Center for Global Development|access-date=28 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120512004905/http://www.cgdev.org/content/publications/detail/1424644|archive-date=12 May 2012|url-status=live))</ref>

The Paris Club refers to an informal group of financial officials from 19 of the world's most influential economies, including such member nations as the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Canada, while non-Paris Club bilateral creditors refers to any entity that does not enjoy permanent/associated status as a Paris Club member.<ref>((cite web|year=2012|url=http://www.clubdeparis.org/sections/composition/membres-permanents-et/membres-permanents|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090628015530/http://www.clubdeparis.org/sections/composition/membres-permanents-et/membres-permanents|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 June 2009|title=Permanent Members|publisher=Paris Club))</ref> Private bilateral creditors (i.e. private commercial banks and private credit suppliers) account for the majority of the remainder (approximately US$6 billion of the total debt).<ref>((cite web|last=Ahmed|first=Medani|year=2008|url=http://www.cmi.no/publications/file/3080-external-debts-growth-and-peace-in-the-sudan.pdf|title=External Debts, Growth and Peace in the Sudan|publisher=CHR. Michelsen Institute|access-date=28 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120607171151/http://www.cmi.no/publications/file/3080-external-debts-growth-and-peace-in-the-sudan.pdf|archive-date=7 June 2012|url-status=live))</ref>

=== East African Community membership ===
The presidents of Kenya and Rwanda invited the [[Autonomous Government of Southern Sudan]] to apply for membership to the [[East African Community]] upon the independence of South Sudan in 2011,<ref name="en.igihe.com">((cite news|url=http://en.igihe.com/spip.php?article455|agency=IGIHE|title=South Sudan: Big trading potential for EAC|date=8 July 2011|access-date=9 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111173803/http://en.igihe.com/spip.php?article455|archive-date=11 January 2012|url-status=live))</ref><ref>((cite news|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201107090046.html|agency=allAfrica|date=8 July 2011|access-date=9 July 2011|title=South Sudan: Rwanda Hopeful of South's Strategic Link to North Africa|first=Magnus|last=Mazimpaka|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711130747/http://allafrica.com/stories/201107090046.html|archive-date=11 July 2011|url-status=live))</ref> and South Sudan was reportedly an applicant country as of mid-July 2011.<ref name="en.igihe.com" /><ref>((cite news|url=http://www.busiweek.com/11/editorial/editorial/1316-welcome-south-sudan-to-eac|agency=East African Business Week|title=Welcome South Sudan to EAC!|date=10 July 2011|access-date=10 July 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927010848/http://www.busiweek.com/11/editorial/editorial/1316-welcome-south-sudan-to-eac|archive-date=27 September 2011))</ref> Analysts suggested that South Sudan's early efforts to integrate infrastructure, including [[rail transport in South Sudan|rail links]] and oil pipelines,<ref>((cite news|title=South Sudan to link to Kenya oil pipeline|url=https://af.reuters.com/article/sudanNews/idAFLAE63689720110706|access-date=19 October 2011|newspaper=Reuters|date=6 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120514061706/http://af.reuters.com/article/sudanNews/idAFLAE63689720110706|archive-date=14 May 2012|url-status=dead))</ref> with systems in Kenya and Uganda indicated intention on the part of [[Juba, South Sudan|Juba]] to pivot away from dependence on [[Sudan]] and toward the EAC.

On 17 September 2011, the ''[[Daily Nation]]'' quoted a South Sudanese MP as saying that while his government was eager to join the EAC, it would likely delay its membership over concerns that its economy was not sufficiently developed to compete with EAC member states and could become a "dumping ground" for Kenyan, Tanzanian, and Ugandan exports.<ref>((cite news|url=http://www.nation.co.ke/News/africa/South+Sudan+delays+membership+in+regional+bloc++/-/1066/1238078/-/s3w8wbz/-/|agency=Daily Nation|first=Machel|last=Amos|title=South Sudan delays membership in regional bloc|date=17 September 2011|access-date=18 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131018020405/http://www.nation.co.ke/News/africa/South+Sudan+delays+membership+in+regional+bloc++/-/1066/1238078/-/s3w8wbz/-/|archive-date=18 October 2013|url-status=live))</ref> This was contradicted by President [[Salva Kiir]], who announced South Sudan had officially embarked on the application process one month later.<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.busiweek.com/11/the-eac-issues/eac-news/1891-south-sudan-readies-for-eac-membership|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111021011844/http://www.busiweek.com/11/the-eac-issues/eac-news/1891-south-sudan-readies-for-eac-membership|url-status=dead|title=South Sudan readies for EAC membership|archive-date=21 October 2011))</ref> The application was initially deferred by the EAC in December 2012,<ref name=SS2EAC>((cite news|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/africa/2013-09/10/c_132705919.htm|title=Uganda says South Sudan likely to join EAC in 2014|agency=Xinhua News Agency|date=9 September 2013|access-date=17 October 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114233621/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/africa/2013-09/10/c_132705919.htm|archive-date=14 November 2013))</ref> and incidents with Ugandan [[boda-boda]] operators in South Sudan created political tension.<ref name=UQSS2EAC>((cite news|url=http://www.theafricareport.com/East-Horn-Africa/ugandan-mps-oppose-south-sudan-joining-east-african-community.html|title=Ugandan MPs oppose South Sudan joining East African community|agency=The Africa Report|date=7 October 2013|access-date=17 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131018075530/http://www.theafricareport.com/East-Horn-Africa/ugandan-mps-oppose-south-sudan-joining-east-african-community.html|archive-date=18 October 2013|url-status=live))</ref>

In December 2012, Tanzania officially agreed to South Sudan's bid to join the EAC, clearing the way for the world's newest state to become the regional bloc's sixth member.<ref name="Tanzania warms up to South Sudan">((cite news|url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/Tanzania-warms-up-to-South-Sudan-membership-/-/2558/1639636/-/viwjrjz/-/index.html|title=Tanzania warms up to South Sudan membership|agency=The EastAfrican|date=8 December 2012|access-date=21 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201224927/https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/Tanzania-warms-up-to-South-Sudan-membership-/-/2558/1639636/-/viwjrjz/-/index.html|archive-date=1 February 2014|url-status=live))</ref> In May 2013, the EAC set aside $82,000 for the admission process. Starting after the EAC Council of Ministers meeting in August 2013, was projected to take at least four years. At the 14th Ordinary Summit held in Nairobi in 2012, EAC heads of state approved the verification report that was presented by the Council of Ministers, then directed it to start the negotiation process with South Sudan.<ref name="EAC prepares to admit South Sudan">((cite news|url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/EAC-prepares-to-admit-South-Sudan--/-/2558/1849526/-/ao63gfz/-/index.html|title=EAC prepares to admit South Sudan|agency=The EastAfrican|date=11 May 2013|access-date=21 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201224932/https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/EAC-prepares-to-admit-South-Sudan--/-/2558/1849526/-/ao63gfz/-/index.html|archive-date=1 February 2014|url-status=live))</ref>

A team was formed to assess South Sudan's bid; however, in April 2014, the nation requested a delay in the admissions process, presumably due to [[South Sudanese Civil War]].<ref>((cite web|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201312051231.html|title=allAfrica.com: East Africa: EAC to Decide On South Sudan Admission by April 2014|work=allAfrica.com|access-date=9 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518125004/http://allafrica.com/stories/201312051231.html|archive-date=18 May 2015|url-status=live))</ref><ref name=observer>((cite web|title=South Sudan defers EAC admission|url=http://www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31578:-south-sudan-defers-eac-admission&catid=34:news&Itemid=114|work=The Observer | date=5 May 2014 |access-date=11 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512222918/http://www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31578:-south-sudan-defers-eac-admission&catid=34:news&Itemid=114|archive-date=12 May 2014|url-status=live))</ref>

South Sudan's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Barnaba Marial Benjamin, claimed publicly in October 2015 that, following unpublished evaluations and meetings of a special technical committee in May, June, August, September and October, the committee has recommended that South Sudan be allowed to join the East African Community.<ref>((cite web|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201511090602.html|title=East Africa: South Sudan's Push to Join EAC Gains Momentum|date=7 November 2015|access-date=14 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117022557/http://allafrica.com/stories/201511090602.html|archive-date=17 November 2015|url-status=live))</ref>

South Sudan was eventually approved for membership in [[East African Community]] in March 2016,<ref>((cite web|url=https://www.nation.co.ke/business/South-Sudan-admitted-into-EAC/996-3100314-acaobi/index.html|title=South Sudan joins East African regional bloc|website=Daily Nation|access-date=31 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418043232/https://www.nation.co.ke/business/South-Sudan-admitted-into-EAC/996-3100314-acaobi/index.html|archive-date=18 April 2019|url-status=live))</ref> and formally acceded with the signature of the treaty in April 2016.<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.eac.int/news-and-media/statements/20160415/communique-signing-ceremony-treaty-accession-republic-south-sudan-east-african-community|title=COMMUNIQUÉ: SIGNING CEREMONY OF THE TREATY OF ACCESSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH SUDAN INTO THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY|date=15 April 2016|access-date=15 April 2016|publisher=East African Community|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424032901/http://www.eac.int/news-and-media/statements/20160415/communique-signing-ceremony-treaty-accession-republic-south-sudan-east-african-community|archive-date=24 April 2016))</ref>

=== South Sudan and the Commonwealth of Nations ===

South Sudan has applied to join the [[Commonwealth of Nations]],<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/ArticleView/mid/519/articleId/5418/South-Sudan-Launches-Bid-to-Join-Commonwealth.aspx|title=South Sudan Launches Bid to Join Commonwealth|website=Gurtong.net|date=8 July 2011|access-date=23 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170711061322/http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/ArticleView/mid/519/articleId/5418/South-Sudan-Launches-Bid-to-Join-Commonwealth.aspx|archive-date=11 July 2017|url-status=live))</ref> considering that South Sudan was part of the [[Anglo-Egyptian Sudan]], and has two [[republics in the Commonwealth of Nations]], [[Kenya]] and [[Uganda]], as neighbouring countries.

== Transport ==
((Main|Transport in South Sudan))

=== Road ===
Road transport is the most common and cheapest means of transport used in the country.<ref>((Citation |title=Roads in South Sudan |date=2023-01-08 |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Roads_in_South_Sudan&oldid=1132364233 |work=Wikipedia |access-date=2023-11-11 |language=en))</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+List of National Roads in South Sudan
!Number
!Name of road
!Distance
!Designated
!Completed
|-
|1
|[[Juba–Nimule Road]]
|192 kilometres (119 mi)
|2007
|2012
|-
|2
|[[Gulu–Nimule Road]]
|105 kilometres (65 mi)
|2012
|2015
|-
|#
|Kangi-Bar-Urud Road
|28 kilometres (17 mi)
|2017?
|2017 (Expected)
|-
|#
|Juba-Yei Road
|170 kilometres (106 mi)
|?
|2023 (Expected)
|-
|#
|[[Juba-Torit-Nadapal Highway]]
|353 kilometers (219 mi)
|?
|?
|-
|#
|Juba-Bor-Malakal Highway
|800 kilometres (497 mi)
|?
|2023 (Expected)
|-
|#
|Juba-Rumbek-Bentiu (Juba-Bahr El-Ghazal) Highway
|720 kilometres (447 mi)
|?
|2023 (Expected)
|-
|
|Yei–Kaya Road
|74 kilometers (46 mi)
|
|
|-
|
|Kajo Keji–Juba Road
|156 kilometers (97 mi)
|
|
|}

==== Water transport ====
The Nile River provides the major water transport in South Sudan. The White Nile is a navigable [[waterway]] from the [[Lake Albert (Africa)]] to [[Khartoum]] through [[Jebel Aulia Dam]]. Between [[Juba]] and [[Uganda]], the river requires a channel to make it navigable.

During part of the year the rivers are navigable up to [[Gambela, Ethiopia]], and [[Wau, South Sudan]].<ref>((Citation |title=Transport in South Sudan |date=2022-08-20 |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Transport_in_South_Sudan&oldid=1105545754 |work=Wikipedia |access-date=2023-11-11 |language=en))</ref>[[File:Train Sudan towards Wau.jpg|thumb|Passengers atop a train travelling towards [[Wau, South Sudan|Wau]]]]
[[File:SPAF Mi17 helicopters at Juba Airport January 2011.jpg|thumb|Two [[Mil Mi-17]] helicopters at [[Juba Airport]]]]

=== Railway ===
((Main|Rail transport in South Sudan))
South Sudan has ((convert|248|km|abbr=on)) of single-track ((RailGauge|3ft6in|lk=on|first=met)) gauge railway line from the Sudanese border to [[Wau, South Sudan|Wau]] terminus. There are proposed extensions from Wau to [[Juba]]. There are also plans to link Juba with the [[Rail transport in Kenya|Kenyan]] and [[Rail transport in Uganda|Ugandan]] railway networks.

=== Air ===
((Main|List of airports in South Sudan))

The busiest and most developed airport in South Sudan is [[Juba Airport]], which has regular international connections to [[Asmara International Airport|Asmara]], [[Entebbe International Airport|Entebbe]], [[Jomo Kenyatta International Airport|Nairobi]], [[Cairo International Airport|Cairo]], [[Bole International Airport|Addis Ababa]], and [[Khartoum International Airport|Khartoum]]. Juba Airport was also the home base of [[Feeder Airlines Company]] and [[Southern Star Airlines]].<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18710&catid=74&Itemid=30|title=South Sudan gets new airline|publisher=Defenceweb.co.za|date=6 September 2011|access-date=2 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203013753/http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18710&catid=74&Itemid=30|archive-date=3 December 2013|url-status=live))</ref>

Other international airports include [[Malakal Airport|Malakal]], with international flights to Addis Ababa and Khartoum; [[Wau Airport|Wau]], with weekly service to Khartoum; and [[Rumbek Airport|Rumbek]], also with weekly flights to Khartoum. Southern Sudan Airlines also serves [[Nimule Airport|Nimule]] and [[Akobo Airport|Akobo]], which have unpaved runways. Several smaller airports exist throughout South Sudan, the majority consisting of little more than dirt runways.

On 4 April 2012, plans were unveiled to launch a South Sudanese national airline, primarily for domestic service at first but eventually expanding to international service.<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.goss-online.org/magnoliaPublic/en/news.html#South%20Sudan%20set%20have%20own%20national%20air%20carrier|title=South Sudan set to have own national air carrier|publisher=goss-online.org|date=1 May 2013|access-date=2 May 2013|archive-url=https://swap.stanford.edu/20110922121702/http://www.goss-online.org/magnoliaPublic/en/news.html#South%20Sudan%20set%20have%20own%20national%20air%20carrier|archive-date=22 September 2011|url-status=live))</ref>

== Humanitarian situation ==
((See also|Health in South Sudan|Child marriage in South Sudan))
According to the United Nations, there are 8.3 million people in need of humanitarian aid in South Sudan as of January 2021.<ref>((Cite web|title=South Sudan Humanitarian Needs Overview 2021 (January 2021) – South Sudan|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/south-sudan/south-sudan-humanitarian-needs-overview-2021-january-2021|access-date=2021-10-12|website=ReliefWeb|language=en))</ref> South Sudan is acknowledged to have some of the worst health indicators in the world.<ref name=health>((cite news|url=http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article1616|title=Southern Sudan has unique combination of worst diseases in the world&nbsp;— Sudan Tribune: Plural news and views on Sudan|work=Sudan Tribune|access-date=21 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408090727/http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article1616|archive-date=8 April 2014|url-status=live))</ref><ref>((Cite journal| last1 = Moszynski| first1 = P.| title = Conference plans rebuilding of Southern Sudan's health services| doi = 10.1136/bmj.331.7510.179| journal = BMJ| volume = 331| issue = 7510| page = 179| year = 2005| pmc = 1179754))</ref><ref name=SSMJ>((cite journal|title=South Sudan Household Survey|date=December 2007|url=http://www.southernsudanmedicaljournal.com/assets/files/misc/SHHS.pdf|journal=South Sudan Medical Journal|access-date=20 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612082122/http://www.southernsudanmedicaljournal.com/assets/files/misc/SHHS.pdf|archive-date=12 June 2011|url-status=live))</ref> The under-five [[infant mortality]] rate is 135.3 per 1,000, whilst [[maternal mortality]] is the highest in the world at 2,053.9 per 100,000 live births.<ref name=SSMJ /> In 2004, there were only three surgeons serving in southern Sudan, with three proper hospitals, and in some areas there was just one doctor for every 500,000 people.<ref name=health />

The epidemiology of [[HIV/AIDS]] in the South Sudan is poorly documented but the prevalence is believed around 3.1%.<ref>((cite web|last=Hakim|first=James|date=August 2009|url=http://www.southernsudanmedicaljournal.com/archive/2009-08/untitled-resource.html|title=HIV/AIDS: an update on Epidemiology, Prevention and Treatment|publisher=South Sudan Medical Journal|access-date=20 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110312032025/http://www.southernsudanmedicaljournal.com/archive/2009-08/untitled-resource.html|archive-date=12 March 2011|url-status=live))</ref> According to a 2013 study, South Sudan "probably has the highest [[malaria]] burden in sub-Saharan Africa".<ref>((Cite journal|title=Malaria control in South Sudan, 2006–2013: strategies, progress and challenges|journal=Malaria Journal|volume=12|page=374|doi=10.1186/1475-2875-12-374|pmid=24160336|pmc=3816306|year=2013|last1=Pasquale|first1=Harriet|last2=Jarvese|first2=Martina|last3=Julla|first3=Ahmed|last4=Doggale|first4=Constantino|last5=Sebit|first5=Bakhit|last6=Lual|first6=Mark Y.|last7=Baba|first7=Samson P.|last8=Chanda|first8=Emmanuel |doi-access=free ))</ref> South Sudan is one of the few countries where [[dracunculiasis]] still occurs.<ref>((cite journal| pmid = 22647809| doi=10.1016/S1995-7645(12)60088-1| volume=5| issue=7| title=Dracunculiasis eradication—finishing the job before surprises arise.| date=Jul 2012| journal=Asian Pac J Trop Med| pages=505–10| last1 = Visser| first1 = BJ| doi-access=free))</ref><ref>((cite journal| pmid = 23843492| doi=10.4269/ajtmh.13-0090| volume=89| issue=1| title=Dracunculiasis eradication: and now, South Sudan.| date=Jul 2013| journal=Am J Trop Med Hyg| pages=5–10| pmc=3748487| last1 = Hopkins| first1 = DR| last2 = Ruiz-Tiben| first2 = E| last3 = Weiss| first3 = A| last4 = Withers| first4 = PC| last5 = Eberhard| first5 = ML| last6 = Roy| first6 = SL))</ref><ref>((cite web|url=https://www.who.int/dracunculiasis/en/|title=WHO&nbsp;— Dracunculiasis (Guinea-worm disease)|work=World Health Organization|access-date=24 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140405212912/http://www.who.int/dracunculiasis/en/|archive-date=5 April 2014|url-status=live))</ref>

At the time of the [[Comprehensive Peace Agreement]] of 2005, humanitarian needs in Southern Sudan were massive. However, humanitarian organizations under the leadership of the UN [[Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs]] (OCHA) managed to ensure sufficient funding to bring relief to the local populations. Along with recovery and development aid, humanitarian projects were included in the 2007 Work Plan of the United Nations and partners. More than 90% of the population of South Sudan live on less than $1 a day, despite the GDP per capita of the entirety of Sudan being $1200 ($3.29/day).<ref>((cite news|url=http://fifthinternational.org/content/support-freedom-southern-sudan-and-fight-workers-unity-against-imperialism|title=Support freedom for Southern Sudan and fight for workers' unity against imperialism|last=Ambler|first=Sean|date=10 January 2011|work=[[League for the Fifth International]]|access-date=24 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140709140536/http://fifthinternational.org/content/support-freedom-southern-sudan-and-fight-workers-unity-against-imperialism|archive-date=9 July 2014|url-status=live))</ref>

In 2007, the United Nations OCHA (under the leadership of [[Éliane Duthoit]]) decreased its involvement in Southern Sudan, as humanitarian needs gradually diminished, slowly but markedly turning over control to the recovery and development activities of NGOs and community-based organisations.<ref>((cite news|url=http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=71676|title=SUDAN: Peace bolsters food security in the south|date=18 April 2007|work=[[The New Humanitarian|IRIN]]|access-date=24 July 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100828092901/http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=71676|archive-date=28 August 2010))</ref>

[[Famine]] reportedly led to deaths in [[Northern Bahr el Ghazal]] and [[Warrap (state)|Warrap]] states in mid-2011, though the state governments of both denied hunger there was severe enough to cause fatalities.<ref>((cite news|url=http://www.sudantribune.com/South-Sudan-s-N-Bahr-el-Ghazal,39863|agency=Sudan Tribune|title=South Sudan's N. Bahr el Ghazal denies reports that hunger caused death|date=17 August 2011|access-date=18 August 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110921161921/http://www.sudantribune.com/South-Sudan-s-N-Bahr-el-Ghazal,39863|archive-date=21 September 2011))</ref>

In Pibor County located in the Jonglei State, in December 2011 and January 2012, [[Cattle raiding|cattle raids]] led to border clashes that eventually resulted in widespread [[Sudanese nomadic conflicts|ethnic violence]], with thousands of deaths and tens of thousands of South Sudanese being displaced, and hundreds of [[Médecins Sans Frontières]] staff went missing. The government declared the area a disaster zone and took control from local authorities.<ref>((cite news|last=Meldrum|first=Andrew|title=South Sudan News: Ethnic clashes must be solved in the long term|url=http://web1.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/africa/120105/south-sudan-news-ethnic-clashes-must-be-solved-long-term|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205004734/http://web1.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/africa/120105/south-sudan-news-ethnic-clashes-must-be-solved-long-term|archive-date=5 February 2012|access-date=6 January 2012|newspaper=GlobalPost|date=6 January 2012))</ref> South Sudan has a very high rate of [[child marriage]].<ref>According to the WHO: "The 10 countries with the highest rates of child marriage are: Niger, 75%; Chad and Central African Republic, 68%; Bangladesh, 66%; Guinea, 63%; Mozambique, 56%; Mali, 55%; Burkina Faso and South Sudan, 52%; and Malawi, 50%. "[https://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2013/child_marriage_20130307/en/] ((Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150424050514/http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2013/child_marriage_20130307/en/|date=24 April 2015))</ref> [[Violence against women]] is common in the country, and South Sudan's laws and policies have been criticized as inadequate in offering protection.<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.smallarmssurveysudan.org/fileadmin/docs/facts-figures/south-sudan/womens-security/HSBA-women-security-law.pdf|title=Women's Security and the Law in South Sudan|access-date=24 August 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826115725/http://www.smallarmssurveysudan.org/fileadmin/docs/facts-figures/south-sudan/womens-security/HSBA-women-security-law.pdf|archive-date=26 August 2014))</ref><ref>Inter-Agency Standing Committee (2014). [https://web.archive.org/web/20150114234102/http://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2014/5/humanitarian-crisis-in-south-sudan Humanitarian Crisis in South Sudan Gender Alert 2: May 2014.] United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)</ref>

=== Water crisis ===
((Further|Water supply in South Sudan))((See also|Sudanese nomadic conflicts))
The [[water supply in South Sudan]] is faced with numerous challenges. Although the [[White Nile]] runs through the country, water is scarce during the dry season in areas that are not located on the river.

About half the population does not have access to an [[improved water source]], defined as a protected well, standpipe or a handpump within one kilometre. The few existing piped water supply systems are often not well maintained and the water they provide is often not safe to drink. Displaced people returning home put a huge strain on infrastructure, and the government institutions in charge of the sector are weak. Substantial external funding from numerous government agencies and non-governmental organizations is available to improve water supply.

Numerous non-governmental organizations support water supply in Southern Sudan, such as [[Water is Basic]], [[Water for South Sudan]], the Obakki Foundation<ref>((cite web|url=https://obakkifoundation.org/projects|title=Obakki Foundation|publisher=ObakkiFoundation.com|access-date=2 May 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190120004231/https://obakkifoundation.org/projects/|archive-date=20 January 2019))</ref> and Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club<ref>((cite web|url=http://lakeregionrotary.com|title=Rotary Club of Bridgton Lake-Region|publisher=Lakeregionrotary.com|access-date=2 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611161653/https://www.lakeregionrotary.com/|archive-date=11 June 2019|url-status=live))</ref> from North America.

=== Refugees ===
[[File:The scale of the problem Jamam refugee camp from the air (6972523516).jpg|thumb|Jamam refugee camp]]

As of February 2014, South Sudan was host to over 230,000 [[refugee]]s, with the vast majority, over 209,000, having arrived recently from Sudan, because of the [[War in Darfur]]. Other African countries that contribute the most refugees to South Sudan are the Central African Republic, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.<ref name="UNHCR Regional Update">((cite web|url=http://data.unhcr.org/SouthSudan/download.php?id=832|title=South Sudan Emergency Situation-Regional Update|publisher=UNHCR|date=2 February 2014|access-date=14 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222140349/http://data.unhcr.org/SouthSudan/download.php?id=832|archive-date=22 February 2014|url-status=live))</ref> As a result of the war that erupted in December 2013, more than 2.3 million people – one in every five people in South Sudan – have been forced to flee their homes, including 1.66 million internally displaced people (with 53.4 per cent estimated to be children) and nearly 644,900 refugees in neighbouring countries. Some 185,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) have sought refuge in UN Protection of Civilians (PoC) sites, while around 90 percent of IDPs are on the run or sheltering outside PoC sites.<ref name="reliefweb">((cite web|title=2016 South Sudan Humanitarian Needs Overview|work=[[United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs|UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs]]|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/south-sudan/2016-south-sudan-humanitarian-needs-overview|date=5 January 2016|access-date=27 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227235414/https://reliefweb.int/report/south-sudan/2016-south-sudan-humanitarian-needs-overview|archive-date=27 December 2017|url-status=live))</ref> Consequently, UNHCR is stepping up its response through an inter-agency collaborative approach under the leadership of the Humanitarian Coordinator, and working with the International Organization for Migration (IOM). In early February 2013, UNHCR started distributing relief items outside the UN base in Malakal, South Sudan, which was expected to reach 10,000 people.<ref name="UNHCR Regional Update" />

=== 2017 famine ===
((Further|2017 South Sudan famine))
On 20 February 2017 South Sudan and the United Nations declared a famine in parts of former [[Unity State]], with the warning that it could spread rapidly without further action. Over 100,000 people were affected. The [[UN World Food Programme]] said that 40% of the population of South Sudan, 4.9 million people, need food urgently.<ref>((cite web|url=https://www.wfp.org/news/news-release/famine-hits-parts-south-sudan|title=Famine Hits Parts of South Sudan|date=20 February 2017|publisher=World Food Programme|access-date=21 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221105459/https://www.wfp.org/news/news-release/famine-hits-parts-south-sudan|archive-date=21 February 2017|url-status=live))</ref><ref name=BBC>((Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-39025927|title=South Sudan declares famine in Unity State|journal=BBC News|date=20 February 2017|access-date=21 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722044156/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-39025927|archive-date=22 July 2018|url-status=live))</ref> U.N. officials said that President [[Salva Kiir Mayardit]] was blocking food deliveries to some areas.<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.whio.com/news/world/famine-declared-part-south-sudan-government-and/ZT9UT22sGQUWxH1w5rIjYJ/|title=Famine declared in part of South Sudan by government and UN|date=20 February 2017|publisher=WHIO|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221105314/http://www.whio.com/news/world/famine-declared-part-south-sudan-government-and/ZT9UT22sGQUWxH1w5rIjYJ/|archive-date=21 February 2017))</ref> Furthermore, UNICEF warned that more than 1 million children in South Sudan were subjected to malnutrition.<ref>((cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/20/africa/south-sudan-famine/index.html|title=Famine declared in South Sudan|first1=Farai|last1=Sevenzo|first2=Bryony|last2=Jones|website=CNN|access-date=7 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307014524/http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/20/africa/south-sudan-famine/index.html|archive-date=7 March 2017|url-status=live))</ref>

An outbreak of [[fall armyworm]] further threatened [[sorghum]] and maize production by July 2017.<ref>((cite web| url=http://www.fao.org/south-sudan/news/detail-events/en/c/1145120/| title=FAO trains village facilitators to fight Fall Armyworm in South Sudan &#124; FAO in South Sudan &#124; Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations| access-date=20 July 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720110207/http://www.fao.org/south-sudan/news/detail-events/en/c/1145120/| archive-date=20 July 2018| url-status=live))</ref>
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== See also ==
*[[Outline of South Sudan]]

== Notes ==
((reflist|group=note))
((notelist))

== References ==
((Reflist
|refs =
<ref name="Sudan Tribune 2011-11-18">((cite news|title = South Sudan releases two journalists without charges|newspaper=[[Sudan Tribune]]|date=18 November 2011|url = http://www.sudantribune.com/South-Sudan-releases-two,40769|access-date=2 January 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111229115124/https://www.sudantribune.com/South-Sudan-releases-two,40769|archive-date=29 December 2011))</ref>
))

==Further reading==
((Refbegin))
*((Country study))&nbsp;– [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/sdtoc.html Sudan]
*Walter C. Soderlund, E. Donald Briggs, ''The Independence of South Sudan: The Role of Mass Media in the Responsibility to Prevent'', Waterloo: Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 2014. pp. $38.99 (paper), ((ISBN|978-1-77112-117-0))
* Mohamed Omer Beshir: ''The Southern Sudan. Background to Conflict''. C. Hurst & Co., London 1968.
*((cite book|last=Biel|first=Melha Rout|title=South Sudan after the Comprehensive Peace Agreement|year=2007|publisher=Netzbandt Verlag|location=Jena|isbn=978-3-937884-01-1))
*((cite book|last1=Daly|first1=M. W.|last2=Rolandsen|first2=Øystein H.|title=A History of South Sudan: From Slavery to Independence|date=2016|publisher=Cambridge University Press|location=Cambridge, U.K.|isbn=978-0-521-11631-2|oclc=921821890))
*((cite book|last=Tvedt|first=Terje|title=South Sudan. An Annotated Bibliography. (2 vols)|year=2004|publisher=IB Tauris|location=London/New York|isbn=978-1-86064-987-5|edition=2nd))
*((cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12107760|title=Profile: Southern Sudan leader Salva Kiir|date=5 January 2011|work=[[BBC Online]]| access-date=24 July 2011))
*((cite web|date=June 2009|title=No One to Intervene: Gaps in Civilian Protection in Southern Sudan|publisher=[[Human Rights Watch]]|location=New York|url=http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/documents/HRW_GapsCivlianProtection_SouthernSudan.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001005138/http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/documents/HRW_GapsCivlianProtection_SouthernSudan.pdf|archive-date=1 October 2011))
((refend))

==External links==
((Commons category))
((Wikivoyage))
* [https://twitter.com/southsudangov?lang=en Government of South Sudan]
* [https://www.southsudanembassyusa.org/ Government of South Sudan] – USA and UN Mission
* [https://embrss.org.uk/ Government of South Sudan] – UK Mission
* [https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/south-sudan/ South Sudan]. ''[[The World Factbook]]''. [[Central Intelligence Agency]].
* ((curlie|Regional/Africa/South_Sudan))
* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14069082 South Sudan profile] from the [[BBC News]].
* ((Cite EB1911|wstitle= Sudan| volume= 26|last= Cana|first= Frank Richardson| pages = 9&ndash;19||short= 1))
* [http://sudanproject.ryanspencerreed.com/gallery/ Photographer's Account of South Sudan – "The Cost of Silence: A Traveling Exhibition"]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101020011532/http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2010/11/southern-sudan/teague-text "Sudan's Shaky Peace"], ''[[National Geographic Society|National Geographic]]'', November 2010.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101017153604/http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2010/11/southern-sudan/steinmetz-photography Photo gallery] by [[George Steinmetz]].
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140419170725/http://www.hnkcnews.com/2014/04/19/un-outrage-at-south-sudan-attack/ UN Outrage at South Sudan Attack]

((Authority control))

((Coord|8|N|30|E|display=title))

((Countries of Africa))

((South Sudan topics))

[[Category:2011 establishments in South Sudan]]
[[Category:Central African countries]]
[[Category:Countries in Africa]]
[[Category:East African Community]]
[[Category:East African countries]]
[[Category:Countries and territories where English is an official language]]
[[Category:Federal republics]]
[[Category:Landlocked countries]]
[[Category:Least developed countries]]
[[Category:Member states of the African Union]]
[[Category:Member states of the United Nations]]
[[Category:South Sudan| ]] <!-- Leave the empty space and the catmain above as standard -->
[[Category:States and territories established in 2011]]