South Sudan

South Sudan is a landlocked country in central East Africa. It shares borders with Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Central African Republic. Its capital is Juba. It declared independence on 9 July 2011, after approximately 99% of voters in the south chose secession from Sudan in a referendum.

The system of government is a presidential republic. English is the official language, while Arabic Juba and regional languages such as Dinka and Nuer are widely spoken. The economy is heavily dependent on oil, which is said to account for around 90% of government revenue; published estimates indicate that 82% of the population lives below the poverty line.

History: from conflict to independence

The south was in prolonged conflict with governments ruled from Khartoum. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005 ended the second civil war, granting the region autonomy and a fixed period for a referendum. After the January 2011 referendum, the transition ended with independence on 9 July 2011. Independence resolved one dispute but opened new ones, including border demarcation and oil revenue sharing.

After independence, the UN Security Council established the UNMISS peacekeeping mission, which continues to report on the security situation and civilian concerns, producing 90-day reports to the Secretary-General.

Civil war and the 2018 agreement

A civil war broke out in December 2013 between President Salva Kiir and Riek Machar, rooted in political and ethnic divisions. The Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) of 2018 established a power-sharing government and transition period. In September 2024, parties to the agreement agreed to extend the transition period by two years, with elections scheduled for December 2026.

The political situation deteriorated in 2025–2026. Riek Machar, the First Vice President, was detained, and proceedings began in Juba in September 2025 on charges including treason. The Justice Office stated in April 2026 that the case had taken longer than expected. Human rights observers and monitors reported that the trial lacked guarantees of justice, while Machar's party characterized it as politically motivated.

Economy and infrastructure

Since independence in 2011, South Sudan has produced roughly two-thirds to three-quarters of Sudan's previous oil output, approximately half a million barrels per day. However, refineries, processing plants, and export terminals are located in Sudan, making the country dependent on Khartoum. Infrastructure is minimal: only about 10,000 km of roads, of which 2% are paved, and fewer than 2% of the population have access to electricity.

Humanitarian situation

The 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (OCHA) estimated that more than 10 million people—roughly two-thirds of the population—will require some form of assistance. An IPC analysis released indicated that more than 7.8 million people could face severe hunger between April and July 2026, and 2.2 million children under five are at risk of severe malnutrition.

Population figures rely on estimates, as the most recent official census was conducted in 2008, when the southern population was reported at 8.26 million. A comprehensive new census has not been conducted since independence.