South Sudan

Introduction ::South Sudan

Background:

Egypt attempted to colonize the region of southern Sudan by establishing the province of Equatoria in the 1870s. Islamic Mahdist revolutionaries overran the region in 1885, but in 1898 a British force was able to overthrow the Mahdist regime. An Anglo-Egyptian Sudan was established the following year with Equatoria being the southernmost of its eight provinces. The isolated region was largely left to itself over the following decades, but Christian missionaries converted much of the population and facilitated the spread of English. When Sudan gained its independence in 1956, it was with the understanding that the southerners would be able to participate fully in the political system. When the Arab Khartoum government reneged on its promises, a mutiny began that led to two prolonged periods of conflict (1955-1972 and 1983-2005) in which perhaps 2.5 million people died - mostly civilians - due to starvation and drought. Ongoing peace talks finally resulted in a Comprehensive Peace Agreement, signed in January 2005. As part of this agreement the south was granted a six-year period of autonomy to be followed by a referendum on final status. The result of this referendum, held in January 2011, was a vote of 98% in favor of secession. Independence was attained on 9 July 2011. Since independence South Sudan has struggled with good governance and nation building and has attempted to control rebel militia groups operating in its territory. Economic conditions have deteriorated since January 2012 when the government decided to shut down oil production following bilateral disagreements with Sudan.

Geography ::South Sudan

Location:

East-Central Africa; south of Sudan, north of Uganda and Kenya, west of Ethiopia

Geographic coordinates:

8 00 N, 30 00 E

Area:

total: 644,329 sq km

country comparison to the world: 42

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries:

total: 5,413 km

border countries: Central African Republic 989 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 639 km, Ethiopia 934 km, Kenya 232 km, Sudan 2,184 km, Uganda 435 km

note: South Sudan-Sudan boundary represents 1 January 1956 alignment; final alignment pending negotiations and demarcation; final sovereignty status of Abyei Area pending negotiations between South Sudan and Sudan

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

hot with seasonal rainfall influenced by the annual shift of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone; rainfall is heaviest in the upland areas of the south and diminishes to the north

Terrain:

the terrain gradually rises from plains in the north and center to southern highlands along the border with Uganda and Kenya; the White Nile, flowing north out of the uplands of Central Africa, is the major geographic feature of the country supporting agriculture and extensive wild animal populations; The Sudd (a name derived from floating vegetation that hinders navigation) is a large swampy area of more than 100,000 sq km fed by the waters of the White Nile that dominates the center of the country

Elevation extremes:

Lowest point: NA

highest point: Kinyeti 3,187 m

Natural resources:

hydropower, fertile agricultural land, gold, diamonds, petroleum, hardwoods, limestone, iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver

Geography - note:

The Sudd is a vast swamp in South Sudan, formed by the White Nile, comprising more than 15% of the total area; it is one of the world's largest wetlands

People and Society ::South Sudan

Nationality:

noun: South Sudanese (singular and plural)

adjective: South Sudanese

Ethnic groups:

Dinka, Kakwa, Bari, Azande, Shilluk, Kuku, Murle, Mandari, Didinga, Ndogo, Bviri, Lndi, Anuak, Bongo, Lango, Dungotona, Acholi

Languages:

English (official), Arabic (includes Juba and Sudanese variants) (official), regional languages include Dinka, Nuer, Bari, Zande, Shilluk

Religions:

animist, Christian

Population:

11,090,104 (July 2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 76

Age structure:

0-14 years: 46.2% (male 2,613,696/female 2,505,794)

15-24 years: 19.7% (male 1,148,967/female 1,030,569)

25-54 years: 29% (male 1,547,552/female 1,666,242)

55-64 years: 3.1% (male 186,460/female 154,924)

65 years and over: 2.1% (male 133,300/female 102,600) (2013 est.)

Dependency ratios:

total dependency ratio: 83.8 %

youth dependency ratio: 77.4 %

elderly dependency ratio: 6.4 %

potential support ratio: 15.6 (2013)

Median age:

total: 16.6 years

male: 16.5 years

female: 16.8 years (2013 est.)

Population growth rate:

4.23% (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 3

Birth rate:

38.5 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 14

Death rate:

8.7 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 74

Net migration rate:

12.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 11

Urbanization:

urban population: 18% of total population (2011)

rate of urbanization: 4.23% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major urban areas - population:

JUBA (capital) 250,000 (2008 est.)

Maternal mortality rate:

2,054 deaths/100,000 live births (2006)

country comparison to the world: 1

Infant mortality rate:

total: 69.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 18

Total fertility rate:

5.54 children born/woman (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 9

Contraceptive prevalence rate:

3.5% (2006)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

3.1% (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 23

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high

food or waterborne disease: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever

vectorborne disease: malaria, dengue fever, trypanosomiasis-Gambiense (African sleeping sickness)

water contact disease: schistosomiasis

respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis

animal contact disease: rabies (2013)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 27%

male: 40%

female: 16% (2009)

Government ::South Sudan

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of South Sudan

conventional short form: South Sudan

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Juba

geographic coordinates: 04 51 N 31 37 E

time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

10 states; Central Equatoria, Eastern Equatoria, Jonglei, Lakes, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Unity, Upper Nile, Warrap, Western Bahr el Ghazal, Western Equatoria

Independence:

9 July 2011 (from Sudan)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 9 July (2011)

Constitution:

Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan 2011, effective 9 July 2011

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Salva KIIR Mayardit (since 9 July 2011); Vice President James Wani IGGA (since 23 August 2013); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

head of government: President Salva KIIR Mayardit (since 9 July 2011); Vice President James Wani IGGA (since 23 August 2013)

cabinet: National Council of Ministers; appointed by the president and approved by a resolution from the Legislative Assembly

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elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held on 11-15 April 2010 (next to be held in 2015)

election results: Salva KIIR Mayardit elected president; percent of vote - Salva KIIR Mayardit 93%, Lam AKOL 7%

Legislative branch:

bicameral National Legislature consists of the National Legislative Assembly (332 seats) and the Council of States (50 seats); members serve four-year terms

elections: National Legislative Assembly - last held 11-15 April 2010 (next to be held in 2015); Council of States - established and members appointed 1 August 2011

election results: National Legislative Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SPLM 251, SPLM-DC 6, NCP 3, independent 6, unknown 66; Council of States - seats by party - SPLM 20, unknown 30

note: a presidential decree of 1 August 2011 reconstituted the National Legislative Assembly, as permitted under Article 94 of the Transitional Constitution, to include the 170 members elected 11-15 April 2010, 96 former members of the National Assembly of the Republic of Sudan, and 66 newly appointed members for a total of 332; a presidential decree also established a Council of States, initially with 50 members - the 20 former members of the Council of States of the Republic of Sudan plus an additional 30 appointed representatives

Judicial branch:

highest court(s): Supreme Court of South Sudan (consists 7 justices including the court president and deputy president and organized into panels of 3 justices except when sitting as a Constitutional panel of all 7 justices)

judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the president upon proposal of the Judicial Service Council, a 9-member judicial and administrative body; judge tenure NA

subordinate courts: national level: Courts of Appeal; High Courts; County Courts; state level: High Courts; County Courts; customary courts; other specialized courts and tribunals

Political parties and leaders:

Sudan People's Liberation Movement or SPLM [Salva KIIR Mayardit]

National Congress Party or NCP

Sudan People's Liberation Movement for Democratic Change or SPLM-DC [Sisto OLUR Erista]

International organization participation:

AU, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOM, ITU, MIGA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Akec KHOC Aciew Khoc

chancery: 1233 20th St. NW, Suite 602, Washington, DC 20036

telephone: [1] [phone]

FAX: [1] [phone]

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Susan D. PAGE

embassy: located on Kololo Road adjacent to the EU's compound, Juba

telephone: [211] (0) 912-105-188

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the red band is edged in white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side contains a gold, five-pointed star; black represents the people of South Sudan, red the blood shed in the struggle for freedom, green the verdant land, and blue the waters of the Nile; the gold star represents the unity of the states making up South Sudan

note: resembles the flag of Kenya; one of only two national flags to display six colors as part of its primary design, the other is South Africa's

National symbol(s):

African fish eagle

National anthem:

name: South Sudan Oyee! (Hooray!)

lyrics/music: collective of 49 poets/Juba University students and teachers

note: adopted 2011; the anthem was selected in a national contest

Economy ::South Sudan

Economy - overview:

Industry and infrastructure in landlocked South Sudan are severely underdeveloped and poverty is widespread, following several decades of civil war with Sudan. Subsistence agriculture provides a living for the vast majority of the population. Property rights are tentative and price signals are missing because markets are not well organized. South Sudan has little infrastructure - just 60 km of paved roads. Electricity is produced mostly by costly diesel generators and running water is scarce. The government spends large sums of money to maintain a big army; delays in paying salaries have periodically resulted in riots by unruly soldiers. Ethnic conflicts have resulted in a large number of civilian deaths and displacement. South Sudan depends largely on imports of goods, services, and capital from the north. Despite these disadvantages, South Sudan does have abundant natural resources. South Sudan produces nearly three-fourths of the former Sudan's total oil output of nearly a half million barrels per day. The government of South Sudan derives nearly 98% of its budget revenues from oil. Oil is exported through two pipelines that run to refineries and shipping facilities at Port Sudan on the Red Sea, and the 2005 oil sharing agreement with Khartoum called for a 50-50 sharing of oil revenues between the two entities. That deal expired on 9 July 2011, however, when South Sudan became an independent country. The economy of South Sudan undoubtedly will remain linked to Sudan for some time, given the long lead time and great expense required to build another pipeline. In early 2012 South Sudan suspended production of oil because of its dispute with Sudan over transshipment fees. This had a devastating impact on GDP, which declined by at least 55% in 2012. South Sudan holds one of the richest agricultural areas in Africa with fertile soils and abundant water supplies. Currently the region supports 10-20 million head of cattle. South Sudan does not have large external debt or structural trade deficits and has received more than $4 billion in foreign aid since 2005, largely from the UK, US, Norway, and Netherlands. Following independence, South Sudan's central bank issued a new currency, the South Sudanese Pound, allowing a short grace period for turning in the old currency. Annual inflation peaked at 79% in May 2012. Long-term problems include alleviating poverty, maintaining macroeconomic stability, improving tax collection and financial management, focusing resources on speeding growth, and improving the business environment.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$10.62 billion (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 153

$22.59 billion (2011 est.)

$21.16 billion (2010 est.)

note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$12.2 billion (2012 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

-53% (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 220

1.4% (2011 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,000 (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 217

$2,300 (2011 est.)

$2,500 (2010 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use:

household consumption: 34.9%

government consumption: 17.1%

investment in fixed capital: 10.4%

exports of goods and services: 64.9%

imports of goods and services: -27.2%

(2011 est.)

Agriculture - products:

sorghum, maize, rice, millet, wheat, gum arabic, sugarcane, mangoes, papayas, bananas, sweet potatoes, sunflower, cotton, sesame, cassava (manioc), beans, peanuts; cattle, sheep

Population below poverty line:

50.6% (2009)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

79% (May 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 224

Exchange rates:

South Sudanese pounds (SSP) per US dollar -

0.7778 (2012 est.)

0.7185 (2011 est.)

Communications ::South Sudan

Telephone system:

international: country code - 211

Broadcast media:

TV is controlled by the government; several private FM stations are operational in South Sudan; some foreign radio broadcasts are available

Internet country code:

.ss

Transportation ::South Sudan

Airports:

85 (2013)

country comparison to the world: 64

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 82

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 12

914 to 1,523 m: 35

under 914 m:

34 (2013)

Heliports:

1 (2013)

Railways:

236 km; note - rail system reported to be in disrepair (2010)

Roadways:

7,000 km; note - little of the road network is paved and much of it is in disrepair (2010)

Waterways:

see entry for Sudan

Military ::South Sudan

Military branches:

Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA)

Military service age and obligation:

18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory and voluntary military service; the Government of South Sudan signed a revised action plan with the UN in March 2012 to demobilize all child soldiers within the SPLA; UNICEF reported 250 confirmed cases of the SPLA's association with children at the end of 2012 (2012)

Transnational Issues ::South Sudan

Disputes - international:

South Sudan-Sudan boundary represents 1 January 1956 alignment, final alignment pending negotiations and demarcation; final sovereignty status of Abyei Area pending negotiations between South Sudan and Sudan; periodic violent skirmishes with South Sudanese residents over water and grazing rights persist among related pastoral populations along the border with the Central African Republic; the boundary that separates Kenya and South Sudan's sovereignty is unclear in the ""Ilemi Triangle,"" which Kenya has administered since colonial times

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 201,303 (Sudan); 13,597 (Democratic Republic of the Congo); 5,876 (Ethiopia) (2013)

IDPs: 243,000 (information is lacking on those displaced in earlier years by: fighting in Abyei between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) in May 2011; clashes between the SPLA and dissident militia groups in South Sudan; inter-ethnic conflicts over resources and cattle; attacks from the Lord's Resistance Army; floods and drought)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: South Sudan is a source and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; South Sudanese women and girls, particularly those who are internally displaced or from rural areas, are vulnerable to forced labor and sexual exploitation in urban centers; the rising number of street children and child laborers are also exploited for forced labor and prostitution; women and girls from Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Democratic Republic of the Congo are trafficked to South Sudan with promises of legitimate jobs and are forced into the sex trade; inter-ethnic abductions continue in some communities in South Sudan

tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - South Sudan does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government has made progress in implementing its UN-backed action plan to eliminate the use of child soldiers in its armed forces, but it has not demonstrated evidence of increasing efforts to address other forms of trafficking; the government has not taken steps to proactively identify trafficking victims among vulnerable populations and has not deployed a system to transfer victims to organizations to receive care; the government continues to indiscriminately arrest individuals in prostitution, including child sex trafficking victims, and sentence them to prison (2013)"