History of the Republic of South Sudan

Facts about South Sudan

• Capital: Juba
• Name: The Republic of South Sudan
• Population: 8,260,490 (2008 census)
• Area: 619,745 sq km (239,285 sq miles)
• Languages: English, Arabic (both official), and Juba Arabic
• Major religions: Traditional religions, Christianity, and Islam
• Life expectancy: 56 years (men), 58 years (women)
• Currency: South Sudanese Pound (SSP)

Brief History of Modern South Sudan

The Republic of South Sudan gained independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011 as the outcome of a 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended Africa's longest civil war. The country is made up of 10 States, and 3 Administrative Areas. South Sudan is one of the most diverse countries in Africa. It is home to 64 different ethnic groups.

Although years of struggle for the people of South Sudan ended joyfully in 2011, the conflict in South Sudan did not end as it was expected. Internal conflict broke out shortly in December 2013 displacing more than 4 million people internally and in neighbouring countries. 

In 2015, the Agreement for the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS) was signed in 2015. This agreement lasted short and war broke out again in 2016 between the Government led by H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) led by the current 1st Vice-President of the Republic Dr Riek Machar Tiny.

Again, a power-sharing agreement known as “ The Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) was signed between the warring parties in August 2018. The R-ARCSS led to the formation of the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) in February 2020.

The R-TGoNU is led by H.E. President Kiir Mayardit and five (5) vices President. On the 2nd of August 2022, the parties to the agreement extended the R-ARCSS for another 24 months from 22 February 2023-to-22nd February 2025. This period will allow the parties to prepare for the general elections which will take place in December 2024.