South Sudan, formally known as the Republic of South Sudan, is an East African landlocked republic.
Ethiopia, Sudan, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and Kenya are its neighbors.
The predicted population in 2023 is 11,088,796, with Juba acting as the capital and largest city.
On July 9, 2011, South Sudan declared independence from Sudan, making it the most recently recognized sovereign state.
The country includes the huge Sudd swamp region, which is formed by the White Nile and is known locally as the Bahr al Jabal, which means “Mountain River.”
Sudan was invaded by Egypt during the Muhammad Ali dynasty and controlled as an Anglo-Egyptian condominium until Sudan’s independence in 1956.
South Sudan’s history has been ruined by civil wars and conflicts. The first Sudanese civil war in 1972 resulted in the formation of the Southern Sudan Autonomous Region, which lasted until 1983.
Following that, a second civil war broke out in 1983 and ended in 2005 with the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
Following this deal, the Autonomous Government of Southern Sudan was founded, restoring southern autonomy.
Eventually, South Sudan became an independent state on July 9, 2011, following a referendum in which over 99% of voters favored independence.
South Sudan has encountered numerous problems since its independence, including ethnic conflict and a civil war marked by human rights violations and ethnic atrocities.
However, in 2018, a unification agreement known as the R-ARCSS was signed between opposing leaders Salva Kiir Mayardit and Riek Machar, resulting in the formation of a coalition government and the possibility for refugees to return home.
South Sudan is one of the world’s least developed and poorest countries, with a low GDP per capita.
Its population is predominantly made up of Nilotic peoples, and it has one of the world’s youngest populations, with around half of the inhabitants under the age of 18.
The country’s primary religions are Christianity and numerous Indigenous traditions. South Sudan is a member of the United Nations, the African Union, the East African Community, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development.
History
Before the tenth century, the Nilotic people, who included the Dinka, Anyuak, Bari, Acholi, Nuer, Shilluk, Kaligi, and others, moved to South Sudan.
These migrations occurred at the same time as the decline of medieval Nubia. Tribal movements eventually led to these groups settling in their current places, with the Anyuak, Dinka, Nuer, and Shilluk settling in Bahr El Ghazal and the Upper Nile Region.
The Acholi and Bari, on the other hand, settled in Equatoria. In the 16th century, the Zande, Mundu, Avukaya, and Baka came and created the dominant state of Equatoria Region.
The Dinka are the most numerous ethnic group in South Sudan, followed by the Nuer, Zande, and Bari.
These groups are spread across several locations, including Maridi, Yambio, Tombura, and Western Bahr el Ghazal.
Historical issues such as British colonial policies that favored Christian missionaries, as well as geographical barriers such as the swamplands along the White Nile, hampered the spread of Islam to the southern regions.
As a result, the southern tribes were able to keep their cultural and religious traditions intact. During Sudan’s colonial era, the British concentrated on improving the Arab north while ignoring the underdeveloped Black African south.
This neglect resulted in upheavals, revolts, and, eventually, Africa’s longest civil war. The violence affected a number of ethnic groups, including the Dinka, Nuer, Shilluk, Anyuak, Murle, Bari, Mundari, Baka, Balanda Bviri, Boya, Didinga, Jiye, Kakwa, Kaligi, Kuku, Lotuka, Nilotic, Toposa, and Zande.
The Azande maintained strong connections with adjacent groups such as the Moru, Mundu, Pöjulu, Avukaya, Baka, and minor populations in Bahr el Ghazal due to the expansionist policies of their ruler Gbudwe in the 18th century.
In the nineteenth century, they fought against the French, Belgians, and Mahdists to defend their freedom.
Equatoria, an Ottoman Egypt province in southern Sudan, was challenged during the Mahdist Revolt of the 1880s and ceased to exist as an Egyptian province.
The Fashoda Incident in 1898 heightened European colonial interests in the region, almost leading to war between Britain and France.
South Sudan’s estimated population is roughly 12 million, but this figure may be erroneous due to a lack of recent census data.
Although metropolitan regions have seen tremendous development in recent years, the economy is largely rural and heavily reliant on subsistence farming.
The region has been devastated by two civil wars: the First Sudanese Civil War (1955-1972), which involved the Sudanese government and the Anyanya rebel army, and the Second Sudanese Civil War (1983-2005), which involved the Sudan People’s Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M).
These conflicts resulted in neglect, lack of infrastructure development, widespread destruction, and the displacement of millions of people, with a significant loss of life.
The Fight for Independence
From January 9 to 15, 2011, South Sudan held a referendum to determine whether it should become an independent country separate from Sudan.
An overwhelming majority of 98.83% voted for independence. On January 23, 2011, it was declared that the country would be renamed the Republic of South Sudan upon independence.
On 9 July 2011, the republic declared formal independence from Sudan, becoming Africa’s 54th independent country.
South Sudan became the 193rd member of the United Nations on July 14, 2011. On July 27, 2011, it also became a member of the African Union.
Following independence, South Sudan faced a number of obstacles, including continued conflicts with Sudan, particularly over the distribution of oil earnings, given that South Sudan possessed the majority of oil reserves.
The Abyei region remained controversial, and a separate referendum to determine whether it would join Sudan or South Sudan was scheduled.
In South Kordofan, fighting erupted between the Sudanese Army and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) over the Nuba Mountains.
South Sudan has faced internal conflicts involving various armed groups across its states, leading to instability and the displacement of people.
The country has been plagued by long-standing inter-ethnic warfare, with clashes between different tribes escalating at times.
The presence of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) led by Joseph Kony has also contributed to the region’s challenges.
In March 2012, South Sudanese forces briefly took control of the Heglig oil fields, which were disputed by both Sudan and South Sudan.
However, South Sudan later withdrew its forces, and the Sudanese Army regained control of the area.
South Sudan has made efforts to integrate into the region by joining the East African Community, becoming a full member on August 15, 2016, alongside the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Overall, South Sudan’s path to independence and subsequent nation-building has been marked by challenges, conflicts, and ongoing efforts to address political, economic, and social issues.
Culture
The culture of South Sudan has been heavily influenced by its neighboring countries as a result of the country’s prolonged civil war and population displacement.
Many South Sudanese fled to countries like as Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda, where they interacted with locals and learned their languages and traditions.
Those who stayed in Sudan, either before or after independence, were affected by Sudanese culture and frequently spoke Juba Arabic or Sudanese Arabic.
Despite these outside influences, most South Sudanese appreciate their tribal roots, traditional culture, and dialects, even when they live in exile or the diaspora.
While Juba Arabic and English are widely spoken, efforts have been made to introduce Swahili as a method of improving connections with East African neighbors.
South Sudan has a varied spectrum of musicians who incorporate languages such as English, Swahili, Juba Arabic, or native African languages, sometimes in combination.
Afro-beat, R&B, Zouk, and reggae are performed by popular musicians such as Barbz, Yaba Angelosi, De Peace Child, and Dynamq.
Another noteworthy artist is Emmanuel Kembe, who is recognized for folk, reggae, and Afro-beat. Artists such as Emmanuel Jal, FTG Metro, Flizzame, and Dugga Mulla have achieved success in the hip-hop genre.
Emmanuel Jal, in particular, has garnered international acclaim for his distinct hip hop style and good message in his rhymes.
Language
English is the official language of South Sudan, and it is widely used in official and administrative contexts.
In addition to English, several indigenous languages are spoken throughout the country, and they hold national language status.
The most commonly spoken indigenous languages include Dinka, Nuer, Murle, Luo, Ma’di, Otuho, and Zande.
There have been discussions about making Swahili a second official language in South Sudan, especially considering its membership in the East African Community.
As a result, Swahili has been introduced into the school curriculum to be taught across the country. South Sudan is linguistically diverse, with over 60 indigenous languages.
Also read: Rabih az-Zubayr, the Sudanese Warlord Who was Beheaded For Fighting Against French Colonialists
Most of these languages belong to the Nilo-Saharan language family, which can be broadly categorized into two main divisions: Nile Sudanic and Central Sudanic. These languages represent the rich linguistic heritage of the country.
Interesting Facts About South Sudan
1. Landlocked Country: South Sudan is a landlocked country located in Africa. It is one of the 45 landlocked countries in the world, with 17 of them situated in Africa. Previously part of Sudan, which was once Africa’s largest country and the 10th largest globally, South Sudan gained independence in 2011.
2. Young Population: South Sudan possesses one of the world’s youngest populations. According to the CIA World Factbook, the median age of the country’s population is 18.6 years.
3. The Nile River: The Nile, renowned as the world’s longest river, flows through South Sudan. One of the Nile’s principal tributaries, the White Nile, passes through the country’s capital, Juba. It eventually converges with the Blue Nile, the Nile’s other major tributary, at Khartoum in Sudan.
4. UNESCO World Heritage Sites: South Sudan does not currently possess any UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Source
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Sudan#Languages
