KEY POINTS
- South Sudan gained independence in 2011 after decades of civil war.
- The nation has faced ongoing internal conflicts and economic difficulties.
- International support remains critical as South Sudan battles a humanitarian crisis.
South Sudan became the newest nation in the world on July 9, 2011, when it gained independence from Sudan.
Though their independence came with celebration and hope, South Sudan as a nation has gone through diverse challenges such as; internal conflict, economic struggles, and humanitarian crises.
South Sudan’s journey to independence was a long and intricate one. The region was neglected for many years by the northern government of Sudan which led to two brutal civil wars; the first one was between 1955 to 1972 while the second was from 1983 to 2005.
The second war came to an end because of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) which paved the way for the January 2011 historic event, where almost all South Sudanese voted for their independence.
Post-independence challenges
The celebration and hope that came with the independence quickly faded away. Not long after the independence, South Sudan started experiencing deep-rooted challenges.
There was division in the ethnic groups, and the political rivalry especially between the Dinka community which was led by President Salva Kiir and the Nuer community, previously led by Riek Machar led to the outbreak of civil war in December 2013.
This conflict claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions of people making the humanitarian situation in the country worse.
According to a report by Ghana Web, the attempts at establishing peace saw both good and bad outcomes. A unity government was created in 2020 which united Kiir and Machar.
This led to a level of stability in the country, however, this did not put a total end to the tension and violence in the country. The struggle of the nation was further aggravated by economic difficulties and corruption in the country, leaving the majority of the population without access to healthcare and education.
Humanitarian crisis and global support
The constant conflict has led to one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. Over 7 million people are currently in need of help, and food insecurity still remains a critical problem.
The United Nations and other non-governmental organizations have helped to ease the pain and pressure, yet sustainable stability has still not been achieved.
The independence of South Sudan brought hope to many. But more than a decade later, the country still struggles with the complications of nation-building and internal conflicts.
Nonetheless, there is still hope of achieving lasting peace and stability in the country if they can settle their differences and become one.
