• Independence

The referendum on self-determination for Southern Sudan was held in January 2011. The
results were overwhelming: more than 98% of voters chose independence. On July 9, 2011,
Southern Sudan officially became the world’s newest nation, known as the Republic of
South Sudan.

Despite this historic achievement, South Sudan faces significant challenges as a new
nation. These include building a functional government, establishing a national identity,
addressing humanitarian needs, and resolving ongoing conflicts with neighboring
countries. Additionally, South Sudan’s economy is heavily dependent on oil revenues,
which are shared with Sudan, and it lacks basic infrastructure such as roads, schools, and
hospitals.

• Internal conflict

The internal conflict in South Sudan is a complex and protracted crisis that has its roots in
historical grievances, ethnic tensions, competition for power and resources, and political
dynamics. South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011 after decades of civil
war, but the new nation plunged into conflict in December 2013 when President Salva Kiir
accused his former deputy Riek Machar of plotting a coup. This sparked violence along
ethnic lines, primarily between the Dinka, the largest ethnic group to which Kiir belongs,
and the Nuer, Machar’s ethnic group.Several factors have fueled the internal conflict in
South Sudan. These include power struggles among political elites, competition over
access to resources such as oil, cattle, and land, historical grievances stemming from the
long struggle for independence from Sudan, weak governance structures, corruption, and
the absence of a strong national identity that transcends ethnic loyalties. The lack of
inclusive governance and failure to address these underlying issues have perpetuated the
conflict.