South Sudan

The Republic of South Sudan, colloquially known as South Sudan, is located in the eastern region of Africa, landlocked by amidst Ethiopia to the east, Uganda and Kenya to the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Central African Republic to the west, and Sudan to the north. Approximately 12.05 million people live in the country, and most of its populace are between zero and fourteen years of age, meaning that the country’s population will see a lot of growth when their youngest generation reaches birthing age.* South Sudan split from its northern counterpart, Sudan, in July of 2011, and since that division the country has faced great turmoil, between different ethnic groups, governmental instatement, and the institutionalization of
The real issues that laid under the surface of the schism with Sudan were shown, though, in time, and fighting began again. South Sudan’s current state of affairs is seen as a civil war yet again. Much of the political climate is affecting the whole country and not just Juba. President Kiir, a Dinka, which is the largest ethnic group in South Sudan, and Vice President Machar, a Nuer, which is the second largest, were at odds, until their struggling resulted in the president firing Machar and the rest of the cabinet, suspecting a coup on his life was imminent. Since tribal ties are of utmost importance to the identities of the South Sudanese, this divide has been reflected in the disputes seen throughout the country. The military took sides, and violence between factions have made the country a war zone - which it still is today. After his firing, Machar even decided to run against Kiir in the next election, which was due to be in 2015 but was pushed back to 2018 due to the extreme conditions of the country. There is currently in place a ceasefire between each side, for the next 30 months, so the South Sudanese government can try to refound its government. Despite the ceasefire, there is still violence, and refugees of South Sudan flood nearby countries because access to food is inconsistent in the country and humanitarian aid is constantly threatened by the
Though the government is trying to implement programs that will stimulate the country’s economy, the political climate is caustic and must be managed in a way that is acceptable to everyone. These political and economic struggles also play a role in the social evolution that the South Sudanese people face, constantly knowing and living violence, so much so that it has become central to their culture.* Since independence one could argue that South Sudan has not really been free, but has been working in a facsimile of that dream that has cracked and broken and exposed the truth underneath. If the struggles in South Sudan can show us anything, it is that politics and economics are not the only important things to making a thriving country. A social component creates a triumvirate to nation building, and if all three are not present in the creation of a nation there will be struggles. The violence and turmoil we see in South Sudan is a discussion on what it truly means to be part of a state and whether or not that can exist without a nation to glue it together. It truly says something that the newest nation in the world is also one of the poorest, is also one that is filled with such constant