South Sudan: Difference between revisions

{{about|the sovereign country established in 2011|similarly named topics|Southern Sudan (disambiguation)}}

{{Pp-move|small=yes}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}

| largest_city = capital

| official_languages = [[English language|English]]<ref name="engwork">{{cite web|url=http://www.goss-online.org/magnoliaPublic/en/home/mainColumnParagraphs/0/content_files/file/FINAL%20TCRSS.doc|title=The Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan, 2011|access-date=12 July 2011|publisher=Government of South Sudan|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://swap.stanford.edu/20110721121619/http://www.goss-online.org/magnoliaPublic/en/home/mainColumnParagraphs/0/content_files/file/FINAL%20TCRSS.doc|archive-date=21 July 2011}} Part One, 6(2). "English shall be the official working language in the Republic of South Sudan".</ref>

| languages_type = [[Spoken language]]s<ref name=Ethnologue>[[Ethnologue]]: [https://www.ethnologue.com/country/SS/languages ''Ethnologue Languages of the World – South Sudan''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909150520/https://www.ethnologue.com/country/SS/languages|date=9 September 2018}}, Retrieved 9 September 2018.</ref>

| languages = {{hlist|[[Dinka language|Dinka]]|[[Bari language|Bari]]|[[Juba Arabic]]<ref name=UNICEF>[[UNICEF|United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)]]: [https://www.unicef.org/esaro/UNICEF(2016)LanguageandLearning-SouthSudan-CaseStudy.pdf ''The impact of language policy and practice on children's learning: Evidence from Eastern and Southern Africa 2016''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913183348/https://www.unicef.org/esaro/UNICEF(2016)LanguageandLearning-SouthSudan-CaseStudy.pdf|date=13 September 2017}} (PDF; 672&nbsp;kB), Pages&nbsp;1–3, Retrieved 9 September 2018</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|title=Juba Arabic (Árabi Júba): a "less indigenous" language of South Sudan|url=https://iris.unito.it/retrieve/handle/2318/1702685/508881/06%20ManfrediTosco.pdf|last=Manfredi|first=Stefano|journal=Sociolinguistic Studies|year=2018|volume=12|issue=1|pages=209–230|doi=10.1558/sols.35596|hdl=2318/1702685|s2cid=150503108|access-date=15 March 2020|archive-date=5 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200505171624/https://iris.unito.it/retrieve/handle/2318/1702685/508881/06%20ManfrediTosco.pdf|url-status=live |issn=1750-8657}}</ref><ref>Manfredi Stefano; Tosco Mauro (2016), [https://halshs.archives-ouvertes.fr/halshs-01357537/document ''A new state, an old language policy, and a pidgin-creolo: Juba Arabic in South Sudan, Forthcoming: Sociolinguistic Studies 2016''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181101013034/https://halshs.archives-ouvertes.fr/halshs-01357537/document|date=1 November 2018}} (PDF; 1141&nbsp;kB), Pages&nbsp;1–18, Retrieved 9 September 2018</ref><ref>Manfredi Stefano; Tosco Mauro (2013), [https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01102624/document ''Language uses vs. language policy: South Sudan and Juba Arabic in the post-independence era''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909150639/https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01102624/document|date=9 September 2018}} (PDF; 301&nbsp;kB), Pages&nbsp;798–802, III Congresso Coordinamento Universitario per la Cooperazione allo Sviluppo, Sep 2013, Turin, Italy. JUNCO, Journal of Universities and International Development Cooperation, 2014, Imagining Cultures of Cooperation – Proceedings of the III CUCS Congress, Turin 19–21 September 2013, Retrieved 9 September 2018</ref>|[[Nuer language|Nuer]]|[[Zande language|Zande]]|[[Jur language|Jur (Luo)]]|[[Murle language|Murle]]|[[Shilluk language|Shilluk]]|[[Languages of South Sudan|various others]]}}

| legislature = [[National Legislature (South Sudan)|Transitional National Legislature]]

| upper_house = [[Council of States (South Sudan)|Transitional Council of States]]

| sovereignty_type = [[History of South Sudan|Independence]]

| sovereignty_note = from [[Sudan]]

}}

 

 

Sudan was occupied by [[History of Egypt under the Muhammad Ali dynasty|Egypt]] under the [[Muhammad Ali dynasty]] and governed as an [[Anglo-Egyptian Sudan|Anglo-Egyptian condominium]] until Sudanese independence in 1956. Following the [[First Sudanese Civil War]], the [[Southern Sudan Autonomous Region (1972–83)|Southern Sudan Autonomous Region]] was formed in 1972 and lasted until 1983. A [[Second Sudanese Civil War|second Sudanese civil war]] soon broke out in 1983 and ended in 2005 with the [[Comprehensive Peace Agreement]]. Later that year, southern autonomy was restored when an [[Autonomous Government of Southern Sudan]] was formed. South Sudan became an [[independent state]] on 9 July 2011, following 98.8% support for independence in [[South Sudanese independence referendum, 2011|a January 2011 referendum]] and is the most recent country to be formed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sJugNxYVA8|title=Broadcast of Declaration of Independence (part 1)|via=YouTube|date=10 July 2011|access-date=2 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130721084549/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sJugNxYVA8|archive-date=21 July 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/user/Laseranthem#p/a/u/0/v5m4JUyBW38|title=Broadcast of Declaration of Independence (part 2)|via=YouTube|date=19 June 2011|access-date=2 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130707130327/http://www.youtube.com/user/Laseranthem#p/a/u/0/v5m4JUyBW38|archive-date=7 July 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> It is the [[List of sovereign states by date of formation|most recent]] sovereign state with widespread recognition {{as of|2024|lc=yes}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/which-are-the-youngest-countries-of-the-world.html|title=The World's Youngest Countries|website=WorldAtlas|date=28 May 2018|language=en|access-date=11 March 2020|archive-date=30 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130235033/https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/which-are-the-youngest-countries-of-the-world.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

South Sudan descended into [[South Sudanese Civil War|a civil war]] from 2013 to 2020, enduring rampant [[Human rights in South Sudan|human rights abuses]], including forced displacement, ethnic massacres, and [[List of journalists killed in South Sudan|killings of journalists]] by various parties. It has since been governed by a coalition formed by leaders of the former warring factions, [[Salva Kiir Mayardit]] and [[Riek Machar]].<ref name="power-sharing">{{cite news|title=South Sudan rivals strike power-sharing deal|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-51562367|access-date=28 February 2020|publisher=[[BBC News]]|date=22 February 2020|archive-date=26 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226015108/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-51562367|url-status=live}}</ref> The country continues to recover from the war while experiencing ongoing and systemic [[Ethnic violence in South Sudan|ethnic violence]].<ref name="malak">{{cite web |last=Malak |first=Garang A. |title=Trust issues persist in Juba despite new dawn |website=The East African |date=22 February 2020 |url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/ea/Trust-issues-persist-in-South-Sudan/4552908-5464954-format-xhtml-fexisgz/index.html |access-date=20 June 2020 |archive-date=22 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622081027/https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/ea/Trust-issues-persist-in-South-Sudan/4552908-5464954-format-xhtml-fexisgz/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

 

 

South Sudan is a [[Member states of the United Nations|member of the United Nations]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-sudan-un-membership-idUKTRE76D3I120110714|title=South Sudan admitted to U.N. as 193rd member|last=Worsnip|first=Patrick|date=14 July 2011|publisher=[[Reuters]]|access-date=24 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715144119/http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/07/14/uk-sudan-un-membership-idUKTRE76D3I120110714|archive-date=15 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=39034&Cr=South+Sudan&Cr1=|title=UN welcomes South Sudan as 193rd Member State|publisher=United Nations News Service|date=14 July 2011|access-date=14 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150803100613/http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=39034&Cr=South+Sudan&Cr1=|archive-date=3 August 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> [[African Union]],<ref name="au54">{{cite web|url=http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/east/South-Sudan-Becomes-African-Unions-54th-Member-126320433.html|title=South Sudan Becomes African Union's 54th Member|publisher=Voice of America News|date=28 July 2011|access-date=28 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110916115846/http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/east/South-Sudan-Becomes-African-Unions-54th-Member-126320433.html|archive-date=16 September 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> [[East African Community]],<ref>"South Sudan admitted into EAC", Daily Nation, 2 March 2016, reprinted at nation.co.ke, accessed 4 March 2016</ref> and the [[Intergovernmental Authority on Development]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-11-25/ethiopia-agrees-to-back-somalia-army-operations-igad-says.html|title=Ethiopia Agrees to Back Somalia Army Operations, IGAD Says|work=Bloomberg Businessweek|access-date=25 November 2011|date=25 November 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120729154359/http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-11-25/ethiopia-agrees-to-back-somalia-army-operations-igad-says.html|archive-date=29 July 2012}}</ref> It is one of the [[least developed countries]] in the world, ranking second to last in the [[List of countries by Human Development Index|Human Development Index]], ahead of only [[Somalia]], and having the fourth-lowest [[List of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita|nominal GDP per capita]], after [[Sierra Leone]], [[Afghanistan]] and [[Burundi]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=GDP per capita, current prices |url=https://www.imf.org/external/datamapper/NGDPDPC@WEO/OEMDC/ADVEC/WEOWORLD?year=2022 |access-date=2023-04-05 |publisher=IMF |archive-date=14 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114210550/https://www.imf.org/external/datamapper/NGDPDPC@WEO/OEMDC/ADVEC/WEOWORLD?year=2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

{{Main|History of South Sudan}}

 

 

The Dinka is the largest, the Nuer the second-largest, the Zande the third-largest, and the Bari the fourth-largest of South Sudan's ethnic groups. They are found in the [[Maridi]], [[Yambio]], and Tombura districts in the [[tropical rainforest]] belt of [[Western Equatoria]], the Adio of Azande client in [[Yei]], [[Central Equatoria]], and [[Western Bahr el Ghazal]]. In the 18th century, the Avungara [[Sib (anthropology)|sib]] rose to power over the rest of Azande society, a domination that continued into the 20th century.<ref>{{cite book|editor=Helen Chapin Metz|editor-link=Helen Chapin Metz|title=Sudan: A Country Study|chapter-url=http://countrystudies.us/sudan/11.htm|series=Area handbook series|year=1991|publisher=GPO for the Library of Congress|location=Washington, D.C.|isbn=978-0-8444-0750-0|chapter=The Turkiyah, 1821–85|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/sudancountrystud00metz_0}}</ref> British policies favouring Christian missionaries, such as the Closed District Ordinance of 1922 (see [[History of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan]]), and geographical barriers such as the swamplands along the [[White Nile]] curtailed the spread of Islam to the south, thus allowing the southern tribes to retain much of their social and cultural heritage, as well as their political and religious institutions.

The region has been negatively affected [[South Sudanese wars of independence|by two civil wars]] since Sudanese independence: from 1955 to 1972, the Sudanese government fought the [[Anyanya]] rebel army (Anya-Nya is a term in the [[Madi language (Sudan and Uganda)|Madi]] language which means "snake venom")<ref>Matthew LeRiche, Matthew Arnold. South Sudan: from revolution to independence. 2012. Columbia University Press. New York. p. 16 {{ISBN|978-0-231-70414-4}}</ref> during the [[First Sudanese Civil War]], followed by the [[Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement]] (SPLA/M) in the [[Second Sudanese Civil War]] for over twenty years, from 1983 to 2005. As a result, the country suffered serious neglect, a lack of infrastructure development, and major destruction and displacement. More than 2.5 million people have been killed, and millions more have become [[refugee]]s both within and outside the country.

 

 

===Independence (2011)===

Despite the official cessation of the civil war, violence between armed militia groups at the community level has continued in the country; according to [[Yasmin Sooka]], Chair of the Commission of Human Rights in Sudan, the level of violence "far exceeds the violence between 2013 and 2019".<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-02-19|title=Violence in South Sudan engulfs country, 10 years after independence 'children all have guns' |publisher=UN News|url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/02/1085202|access-date=2023-02-03 |language=en|archive-date=3 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203155338/https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/02/1085202|url-status=live}}</ref>

 

 

 

=== 2017 famine ===

{{More citations needed section|date=July 2022}}

[[File:South Sudan protected areas.svg|thumb|upright=1.3|Protected areas in South Sudan]]

 

South Sudan's protected area of [[Bandingilo National Park]] hosts the second-largest [[wildlife]] migration in the world. Surveys have revealed that [[Boma National Park]], west of the Ethiopian border, as well as the [[Sudd]] wetland and [[Southern National Park]] near the border with Congo, provided habitat for large populations of [[hartebeest]], [[kob]], [[topi]], [[African buffalo|buffalo]], elephants, giraffes, and lions.

 

=== Government ===

[[File:President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama greet His Excellency Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Salva Kiir Mayardit]], the first President of South Sudan. His trademark [[Stetson|Stetson hat]] was a gift from United States President [[George W. Bush]].]]

[[File:South Sudan Independence.jpg|thumb|South Sudan's presidential guard on Independence Day, 2011]]

 

The constitution establishes a [[presidential system]] of government headed by a [[President (government title)|president]] who is [[head of state]], [[head of government]], and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. It also establishes the [[National Legislature of South Sudan|National Legislature]] comprising two houses: a directly elected assembly, the [[National Legislative Assembly of South Sudan|National Legislative Assembly]], and a second chamber of representatives of the states, the [[Council of States of South Sudan|Council of States]].<ref>{{cite journal|last=Henneberg|first=Ingo|date=2013|title=Das politische System des Südsudan|language=German|trans-title=The Political System of South Sudan|journal=Verfassung und Recht in Übersee / Law and Politics in Africa, Asia and Latin America|volume=46|issue=2|pages=174–196|doi=10.5771/0506-7286-2013-2-174|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305220861|url-status=live|url-access=subscription|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618125722/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305220861_The_Political_System_of_South_Sudan_2011_p_196|archive-date=18 June 2018|doi-access=free}}</ref>

==== 2011–2015 ====

[[File:SouthSudanStates.svg|thumb|The ten states of South Sudan prior to 2015, grouped in the three historical provinces of [[Anglo-Egyptian Sudan]] {{legend|#9BCD9B|[[Bahr el Ghazal (region of South Sudan)|Bahr el Ghazal]]}} {{legend|#7AC5CD|[[Equatoria]]}} {{legend|#EEE685|[[Greater Upper Nile]]}}]]

 

;[[Bahr el Ghazal (region of South Sudan)|Bahr el Ghazal]]

*[[Eastern Equatoria]]

 

*[[Jonglei]]

 

 

==== 2015–2020 ====

[[File:South Sudan-32 States.png|thumb|The 32 states of South Sudan, after the addition of four more states in 2017]]

 

 

;Bar el Ghazal

#[[Yei River State|Yei River]]

 

#[[Boma State|Boma]]

#[[Central Rol naath State|Central Rol naath]]

#[[Akobo State|Akobo]]

#[[Jonglei|Jonglei State]]

#[[Latjoor]]

#[[Maiwut State|Maiwut]]

#[[Northern Liech]]

#[[Southern Liech]]

#[[Bieh State|Bieh]]

#[[Fangak State]]

 

 

====2020–present====

{{Main|States of South Sudan}}

[[File:SouthSudanStatesandAdministrativeAreas.svg|thumb|Administrative areas of South Sudan as of 2020]]

 

The [[Kafia Kingi]] area is disputed between South Sudan and Sudan and the [[Ilemi Triangle]] is disputed between South Sudan and Kenya.

 

 

;[[Bahr el Ghazal (region of South Sudan)|Bahr el Ghazal]]

*[[Eastern Equatoria]]

 

*[[Jonglei]]

*[[Unity (state)|Unity]]

 

;Administrative Areas

 

*[[Greater Pibor Administrative Area]]

 

;Special Administrative Status Areas

In July 2019, UN ambassadors of 37 countries, including South Sudan, signed a joint letter to the [[UNHRC]] defending China's treatment of [[Uyghurs]] in the [[Xinjiang]] region.<ref>{{cite news|title=Which Countries Are For or Against China's Xinjiang Policies?|url=https://thediplomat.com/2019/07/which-countries-are-for-or-against-chinas-xinjiang-policies/|work=[[The Diplomat]]|date=15 July 2019|access-date=18 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716160658/https://thediplomat.com/2019/07/which-countries-are-for-or-against-chinas-xinjiang-policies/|archive-date=16 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

 

 

=== Military ===

{{See also|List of companies based in South Sudan}}

[[File:Loka west teak.jpg|thumb|right|Loka Teaks is the largest [[teak]] [[plantation]] in Africa.{{citation needed|date=October 2012}}]]

 

Other than natural resources-based companies, other such organisations include [[Southern Sudan Beverages Limited]], a subsidiary of [[SABMiller]].

After independence, South Sudan objected to Sudan charging US$34 per [[Barrel (unit)|barrel]] to transport oil through the pipeline to the oil terminal at Port Sudan. With production of around 30,000 barrels per day, this was costing over a million dollars per day. In January 2012, South Sudan suspended oil production, causing a dramatic reduction in revenue and food costs to rise by 120%.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/happy-birthday-south-sudan-7912244.html|title=Happy Birthday South Sudan?|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|first=Ros|last=Wynne-Jones|date=7 July 2012|access-date=9 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120709013201/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/happy-birthday-south-sudan-7912244.html|archive-date=9 July 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2017, [[Nile Drilling & Services]] became South Sudan's first locally owned and run petroleum drilling company.

 

 

=== Debt ===

 

=== Ethnic groups ===

 

=== Diaspora ===

| style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;"| 2|| style="text-align:left;"| [[Wau, South Sudan|Wau]]|| style="text-align:left;"| [[Western Bahr el Ghazal]]|| style="text-align:right;"| 118,331

|-

|-

| style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;"| 4|| style="text-align:left;"| [[Yambio]]|| style="text-align:left;"| [[Western Equatoria]]|| style="text-align:right;"| 105,881

| style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;"| 5|| style="text-align:left;"| [[Yei, South Sudan|Yei]]|| style="text-align:left;"| [[Central Equatoria]]|| style="text-align:right;"| 69,720

|-

|-

| style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;"| 7|| style="text-align:left;"| [[Aweil, South Sudan|Aweil]]|| style="text-align:left;"| [[Northern Bahr el Ghazal]]|| style="text-align:right;"| 59,217

| style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;"| 8|| style="text-align:left;"| [[Maridi]]|| style="text-align:left;"| [[Western Equatoria]]|| style="text-align:right;"| 55,602

|-

|-

| style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;"| 10|| style="text-align:left;"| [[Bor, South Sudan|Bor]]|| style="text-align:left;"| [[Jonglei State|Jonglei]]|| style="text-align:right;"| 25,188

{{Main|Languages of South Sudan}}

 

 

The majority of languages spoken in South Sudan are classified within the [[Nilo-Saharan languages|Nilo-Saharan Language family]], specifically the subbranches of [[Nilotic languages|Nile Sudanic]] and [[Central Sudanic languages|Central Sudanic]]; most of the remainder are part of the [[Adamawa-Ubangi]] branch of the [[Niger-Congo family]]. The most common languages are [[Nuer language|Nuer]] (4.35 million), [[Bari language|Bari]] (595,000) [[Dinka language|Dinka]] (940,000) or [[Zande language|Zande]] (420,000), which are collectively spoken by approximately 60% of the population;<ref name="USAID Language of Instruction" /> other major indigenous languages include [[Murle language|Murle]], [[Luo languages|Luo]], [[Ma'di language|Ma'di]], and [[Otuho language|Otuho]]. Six indigenous languages are threatened with [[Language death|extinction]], with another 11 declining.<ref name="USAID Language of Instruction" />

 

 

[[Swahili language|Swahili]], a [[Bantu languages|Bantu language]] spoken primarily in East Africa, has been proposed as a second official language. In 2011, South Sudan's ambassador to [[Kenya]] stated that [[Swahili language|Swahili]] would be introduced in South Sudan with the goal of supplanting Arabic as a ''[[lingua franca]]'', in keeping with the country's orientation toward the [[East African Community]] rather than Sudan and the [[Arab League]].<ref>{{cite news |date=2 August 2011 |title=South Sudanese still in Kenya despite new state |url=http://assistamerica.countrywatch.com/rcountry.aspx?vcountry=89&topic=CBWIR&uid=5271402 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150411015341/http://assistamerica.countrywatch.com/rcountry.aspx?vcountry=89 |archive-date=11 April 2015 |access-date=16 September 2013 |agency=Xinhua}}</ref> Following the South Sudan's ascension to the [[East African Community]] in 2019, the government has moved to adopt Swahili into the official curricula at primary school.<ref>{{Cite web |last=AfricaNews |date=2017-07-06 |title=S. Sudan to adopt Swahili as official language, seeks Tanzania's help |url=https://www.africanews.com/2017/07/06/s-sudan-to-adopt-swahili-as-official-language-seeks-tanzania-s-help/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190811213026/https://www.africanews.com/2017/07/06/s-sudan-to-adopt-swahili-as-official-language-seeks-tanzania-s-help// |archive-date=11 August 2019 |access-date=2022-04-08 |website=Africanews |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Africanews 2017-07-05">{{cite web |last=AfricaNews |date=5 July 2017 |title=S. Sudan to adopt Swahili as official language, seeks Tanzania's help – Africanews |url=http://www.africanews.com/2017/07/06/s-sudan-to-adopt-swahili-as-official-language-seeks-tanzania-s-help/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171008025942/http://www.africanews.com/2017/07/06/s-sudan-to-adopt-swahili-as-official-language-seeks-tanzania-s-help/ |archive-date=8 October 2017 |access-date=7 October 2017}}</ref> Nevertheless, South Sudan submitted an application to join the Arab League as a [[Member states of the Arab League|member state]] on 25 March 2014, which is still pending.<ref>[[Middle East Monitor]]: [https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20140412-south-sudan-and-chad-apply-to-join-the-arab-league ''South Sudan and Chad apply to join the Arab League''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913231309/https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20140412-south-sudan-and-chad-apply-to-join-the-arab-league/|date=13 September 2017}}, 12 April 2014, retrieved 3 May 2017</ref> In an interview with the newspaper [[Asharq Al-Awsat]], the Foreign Minister of South Sudan [[Deng Alor Kuol]] said: South Sudan is the closest African country to the [[Arab world]], and we speak a special kind of Arabic known as Juba Arabic.<ref>[[Asharq Al-Awsat]]: [http://english.aawsat.com/ahmedyounis/interviews/foreign-minister-south-sudan-considering-joining-arab-league ''Foreign Minister of South Sudan: We Are Considering Joining the Arab League''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913233152/https://english.aawsat.com/ahmedyounis/interviews/foreign-minister-south-sudan-considering-joining-arab-league|date=13 September 2017}}, 7 June 2016, retrieved 3 May 2017</ref> Sudan supports South Sudan's request to join the Arab League.<ref>[[Sudan Tribune]]: [http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article59689 ''Khartoum supports South Sudan demand to join Arab League''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018103721/http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article59689|date=18 October 2017}}, 21 July 2016, retrieved 3 May 2017</ref> Juba Arabic is a [[lingua franca]] in South Sudan.

{{Main|Religion in South Sudan}}

[[File:Yirol Church.jpg|thumb|[[Catholic Church in South Sudan|Holy Cross Cathedral]] in [[Lakes State]].|279x279px]]

 

 

 

Christianity has grown rapidly in the country over the last two decades. Despite European [[missionary]] activity beginning as early as the mid-19th century, the U.S. [[Library of Congress]] states that "in the early 1990s possibly no more than 10% of southern Sudan's population was [[Christians|Christian]]".<ref>{{cite web |title=Sudan: A Country Study; Ethnicity, Regionalism and Ethnicity |url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/sdtoc.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110114012212/http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/sdtoc.html |archive-date=14 January 2011 |access-date=10 January 2011 |publisher=Federal Research Division, Library of Congress}}</ref> During this same period, official records of [[Sudan]] claimed that one-quarter of the population of present-day South Sudan practiced various [[Traditional religions of Africa|traditional religions]] while only 5% were [[Christians]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Geographica. The Complete Illustrated Atlas of the world |year=1999 |page=336}}</ref> Various scholarly sources, as well as the [[United States Department of State|U.S. Department of State]],<ref name="US_State_Dept">{{cite web |title=Sudan |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5424.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802172914/https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5424.htm |archive-date=2 August 2018 |access-date=21 December 2013 |publisher=U.S. State Department}}</ref> stated that a majority of southern Sudanese maintained traditional [[Animism|animist]] indigenous beliefs at the start of the 21st century, with Christians remaining a small minority.<ref>{{cite book |last=Kaufmann |first=Eric |author-link=Eric Kaufmann |title=Rethinking ethnicity: majority groups and dominant minorities |publisher=Routledge |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-203-56339-7 |page=45}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Minahan, J. |title=Encyclopedia of the Stateless Nations: S-Z |publisher=Greenwood Press |year=2002 |isbn=978-0-313-32384-3 |page=1786}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=Arnold, G |year=2003 |title=Book Review: Douglas H. Johnson, The Root Causes of Sudan's Civil Wars |journal=African Journal of Political Science |volume=8 |issue=1 |page=147}}</ref>

[[File:Kator church.jpg|thumb|[[St. Theresa Cathedral, Juba|St. Theresa Cathedral in Juba]]]]

 

 

Although the internal conflicts that precipitated Sudan's partition have been characterized as between Muslims and Christians, some scholars reject this notion, claiming Muslim and Christian sides sometimes overlapped.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Pat |first1=Mr |title=Christians Under Siege |date=2009 |page=105}}</ref> Muslims are relatively well integrated into South Sudanese society and represented in government; Muslim religious leaders are present in all major political ceremonies as well as peace negotiations. Islamic private schools are maintained with little government involvement, while many secondary institutions include Islamic theology in their curricula.<ref name="US St Dept">{{Cite web |title=South Sudan |url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-report-on-international-religious-freedom/south-sudan/ |access-date=2024-07-09 |publisher=United States Department of State |language=en-US}}</ref>

{{Main|Health in South Sudan}}

{{See also|Child marriage in South Sudan}}

 

The epidemiology of [[HIV/AIDS]] in the South Sudan is poorly documented but the prevalence is believed around 3.1%.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hakim|first=James|date=August 2009|url=http://www.southernsudanmedicaljournal.com/archive/2009-08/untitled-resource.html|title=HIV/AIDS: an update on Epidemiology, Prevention and Treatment|work=South Sudan Medical Journal|access-date=20 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110312032025/http://www.southernsudanmedicaljournal.com/archive/2009-08/untitled-resource.html|archive-date=12 March 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> According to a 2013 study, South Sudan "probably has the highest [[malaria]] burden in [[Sub-Saharan Africa|sub-Saharan]] [[Africa]]".<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Malaria control in South Sudan, 2006–2013: strategies, progress and challenges|journal=Malaria Journal|volume=12|page=374|doi=10.1186/1475-2875-12-374|pmid=24160336|pmc=3816306|year=2013|last1=Pasquale|first1=Harriet|last2=Jarvese|first2=Martina|last3=Julla|first3=Ahmed|last4=Doggale|first4=Constantino|last5=Sebit|first5=Bakhit|last6=Lual|first6=Mark Y.|last7=Baba|first7=Samson P.|last8=Chanda|first8=Emmanuel |doi-access=free}}</ref> South Sudan is one of the few countries where [[dracunculiasis]] still occurs.<ref>{{cite journal |pmid=22647809 |doi=10.1016/S1995-7645(12)60088-1 |volume=5 |issue=7 |title=Dracunculiasis eradication—finishing the job before surprises arise. |date=Jul 2012 |journal=Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine |pages=505–10 |last1=Visser |first1=BJ |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |pmid=23843492 |doi=10.4269/ajtmh.13-0090 |volume=89 |issue=1 |title=Dracunculiasis eradication: and now, South Sudan |date=Jul 2013 |journal=American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene |pages=5–10 |pmc=3748487 |last1=Hopkins |first1=DR |last2=Ruiz-Tiben |first2=E |last3=Weiss |first3=A |last4=Withers |first4=PC |last5=Eberhard |first5=ML |last6=Roy |first6=SL}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/dracunculiasis/en/|title=WHO&nbsp;— Dracunculiasis (Guinea-worm disease)|publisher=World Health Organization|access-date=24 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140405212912/http://www.who.int/dracunculiasis/en/|archive-date=5 April 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

The South Sudanese can boast links to top basketball players. [[Luol Deng]] was a [[National Basketball Association]] star in the United States; at the international level, he represented [[Great Britain national basketball team|Great Britain]]. Other leading international basketball players from South Sudan include [[Manute Bol]], [[Kueth Duany]], [[Deng Gai]], [[Ater Majok]], [[Wenyen Gabriel]], and [[Thon Maker]]. The [[South Sudan national basketball team]] played its first match against the [[Uganda national basketball team]] on 10 July 2011 in Juba.<ref name="sports">{{cite news|url=http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/basketball/worlds-newest-nation-set-to-step-into-sporting-arena/451201|title=World's Newest Nation Set to Step into Sporting Arena|newspaper=The Jakarta Globe|date=6 July 2011|access-date=21 December 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927093457/http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/basketball/worlds-newest-nation-set-to-step-into-sporting-arena/451201|archive-date=27 September 2012}}</ref> The nation made their debut at the [[FIBA Basketball World Cup]] in [[2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup|2023]]. The also made their [[AfroBasket]] debut in [[FIBA AfroBasket 2021|2021]] finishing 7th.

 

 

On 2 August at the 128th IOC Session, South Sudan was granted full recognition of its [[South Sudan National Olympic Committee|National Olympic Committee]]. [[South Sudan at the 2016 Summer Olympics|South Sudan competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics]] with three athletes in track and field. No medals were won during this Olympics.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rio2016.com/en/south-sudan|title=South Sudan|website=Rio 2016|access-date=18 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161125235855/https://www.rio2016.com/en/south-sudan|archive-date=25 November 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

* [https://embrss.org.uk/ Government of South Sudan] – UK Mission

* [https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/south-sudan/ South Sudan]. ''[[The World Factbook]]''. [[Central Intelligence Agency]].

* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14069082 South Sudan profile] from the [[BBC News]].

* {{Cite EB1911 |wstitle=Sudan |volume=26 |last=Cana |first=Frank Richardson |pages=9&ndash;19 |short=1}}