Republic of South Sudan. Republic of South Sudan: description, history, attractions and interesting facts

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South Sudan(English) South Sudan), official name Republic of South Sudan(English) Republic of South Sudan listen)) is a state in Africa with its capital in Juba. It is planned to move the capital from Juba to the city of Ramsel. It borders Ethiopia to the east, Kenya, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the south, the Central African Republic to the west and Sudan to the north. Area - 619,745 km². South Sudan's sovereign status came into effect on July 9, 2011, following the signing of a declaration declaring it an independent state. Member of the UN since July 14, 2011. It has no access to the sea.

Story

At the time of the colonization of Africa by European countries, there was no state entities in the modern sense. Over the course of centuries of history, the Arabs also failed to integrate this region. Some progress has occurred with Ottoman rule Egypt, when in 1820-1821. The regime of Muhammad Ali, dependent on the Porte, began active colonization of the region.

During the period of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan (1898-1955), Great Britain tried to limit Islamic and Arab influence on South Sudan, introducing separate administration of the North and South of Sudan, respectively, and in 1922 even passing an Act introducing visas for the Sudanese population to travel between two regions. At the same time, the Christianization of South Sudan was carried out. In 1956, the creation of a unified Sudanese state with the capital in Khartoum was proclaimed, and the dominance of politicians from the North, who tried to Arabize and Islamize the South, was consolidated in the governance of the country.

The signing of the Addis Ababa Agreement in 1972 led to the end of the 17-year First civil war(1955-1972) between the Arab North and the black South and the provision of a certain amount of internal self-government to the South.

After about a ten-year lull, Jafar Nimeiri, who seized power as a result of a military coup in 1969, resumed the policy of Islamization. IN criminal law The country introduced the types of punishments provided for by Islamic law, such as stoning, public flogging and cutting off hands, after which the armed conflict was resumed by the Sudan People's Liberation Army.

According to American estimates, in the two decades since the resumption of armed conflict in southern Sudan, government forces have killed about 2 million civilians. As a result of periodic droughts, famine, fuel shortages, expanding armed confrontation, and human rights violations, more than 4 million southerners were forced to leave their homes and flee to cities or to neighboring countries - Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and the Central African Republic, as well as to Egypt and Israel. Refugees are unable to farm land or otherwise earn a living, suffer from malnutrition and poor nutrition, and lack access to education and health care. The long-term war led to a humanitarian catastrophe.

Negotiations between the rebels and the government in 2003-2004 formally ended the 22-year second civil war, although isolated armed clashes took place in a number of southern regions later. On January 9, 2005, the Naivasha Agreement was signed in Kenya, granting autonomy to the region, and the leader of the South, John Garang, became Vice President of Sudan. South Sudan received the right, after 6 years of autonomy, to hold a referendum on its independence. Revenues from oil production during this period were, according to the agreement, to be divided equally between the central government and the leadership of the southern autonomy. This somewhat relieved the tense situation. However, on July 30, 2005, Garang died in a helicopter crash, and the situation began to heat up again. To resolve the conflict in September 2007, South Sudan visited General Secretary UN Ban Ki-moon. The international community brought peacekeeping and humanitarian forces into the conflict zone. During the 6-year temporary period, the southern authorities organized quite complete and effective control of their territory by the current Government of South Sudan with all ministries, including armed forces and law enforcement agencies. By all accounts, the ability and desire of the non-Arab region to live independently was not in doubt. In June 2010, the United States announced that it would welcome the emergence of a new state if the referendum was successful. On the eve of the referendum, on January 4, 2011, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, during a visit to the South Sudanese capital of Juba, promised to recognize any results of the plebiscite, and even expressed his readiness to take part in official celebrations on the occasion of the formation of a new state if southerners vote for independence in the referendum. In addition, he promised freedom of movement between the two countries, offered to help southerners create a safe and stable state, and also organize an equal union of two states like the European Union if the South gains independence. As a result of the positive outcome of the referendum, the new state was proclaimed on July 9, 2011. Even before this, in June 2011, a border conflict began in Southern Kordofan.

Population

The population of South Sudan, according to various sources, ranges from 7.5 to 13 million people. According to the results of the 2008 Sudanese census, the population of the South was 8,260,490 people, but the South Sudanese authorities do not recognize these results because the central bureau of statistics in Khartoum refused to provide them with raw data on the region for their own processing and assessment.

The majority of South Sudan's population is black and follows either Christianity or traditional African animist religions. The main group of the population consists of representatives of the Nilotic peoples, the most numerous of which are the Dinka, Nuer, Azande, Bari and Shilluk.

Language

The official language of the country is English. Most South Sudanese speak a variety of Nilotic, Adamawa-Ubangi, Central Sudanese and other languages and dialects, the largest of which is Dinka.

Religion

Religion in South Sudan- a set of religious beliefs inherent in the peoples of South Sudan.

The majority of the population of South Sudan professes either Christianity or traditional African animist religions, which to a certain extent led to a clash with the Muslim North.

In addition to Catholic communities, the country has Anglican parishes and structures of various charismatic Christian denominations.

The number of Catholics in South Sudan is about 1 million 700 thousand people (about 22% of the total population). Most adherents of Catholicism live in the southern states of Eastern Equatoria, Central Equatoria and Western Equatoria, where Catholics form a significant majority. The smallest number of Catholics live in Upper Nile state (45,000 people out of a total population of 2 million 750 thousand people).

Healthcare

The health care system in South Sudan is poorly developed, which coupled with the general low level literacy in the country, as well as poorly developed infrastructure, seriously impede the fight against disease.

Malaria and cholera are common in South Sudan. Despite international intervention, many residents lack access to qualified medical care, which became one of the reasons for the outbreak of black fever in 2010.

South Sudan has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in the world. However, exact data for the country is not available. According to the reports of the special session of the UN General Assembly for 2008, 3.1% of the country's adults are HIV-infected. This number is almost twice as high as in neighboring Sudan.

South Sudan is home to a number of rare diseases not found anywhere else outside the region. For example, in the southern part of the country there is a rare disease of unknown origin called nodule syndrome. It is relatively common small area and affects mainly children from 5 to 15 years old. As of 2011, the number of cases is several thousand. Neither the cause of the disease nor its treatment are known.

Climate

The dry period in the region is very short and lasts only during the winter months (in the north it is longer, but still lasts less of the year). Annual precipitation ranges from 700 mm in the north to about 1400 mm in the southwest. All of South Sudan is covered with forests, which are divided into two parts. These are monsoon (tropical) forests in the south, and equatorial forests in the far south, that is, monsoon (25%) and equatorial (5%).

On July 9, 2011, South Sudan officially became a sovereign state - the Republic of South Sudan. Six months earlier, 98.8% of southerners voted in a referendum for the separation of the Christian South from the Islamic North. The decisive factor here was his geographical position.
The new African state is only about two years old, and not everyone in the world knows about its existence, let alone its history. The division of Sudan, which was preceded by decades of civil war, caused a great outcry at the time, especially in the Arab world, which, along with northern Sudanese, lamented that the Khartoum government was unable to correct the mistakes of history in a timely manner. But let's look at the events through the eyes of the indigenous Negroid peoples of South Sudan - the Dinka, Nuer, Azande, Bari and Shilluk, Latuko, Pari and others.
If the history of Nubia is known due to prolonged contacts with Egypt, then about ancient history Almost nothing is known about the land lying south of the “plague swamps”. One can guess that they were much more pleased with self-isolation than with the invasion of slave traders from the north. On the official government page, the historical outline begins with the invasion of the son of the Khedive of Egypt Muhammad Ali - Ismail bin Muhammad Ali, who without resistance occupied the “black sultanate” of Sennar in 1821 (the state of the Islamized Fung people, who fled to the territory of Nubia from the south, fleeing the Shilluk people ). Then he was absorbed. And the British appeared in Sudan after the occupation of Egypt in 1882.
In Black Africa, Arabs from Arabia or Egypt have been “white masters” since ancient times. Arab merchants were involved in the African slave trade for almost 1,000 years - three times longer than Europeans. Arabs (as well as Europeans) have always looked at blacks as an inferior race, and on human and natural resources (slaves, gold, ivory and wood) - exclusively as a source of enrichment. Here we must immediately make a reservation about who can be considered Arabs in Sudan - those whose native language is Arabic and who profess Islam. Skin color, as a result of mixed marriages, can be black. At the same time, the remaining ethnic groups of Sudan are mainly Negroid groups speaking local African dialects or English language.
If initially the huge swamp of the Sudd was a natural obstacle to the Arabization and Islamization of the population of the South, then the colonial authorities of Great Britain played the most important role: in 1922 they introduced the “Southern Policy”, blocking access for Arabs from the North to the black South and vice versa (crossing the border required special passes). At the same time, the southern regions were opened to Christian missionaries, so South Sudan today is a Christian country, although many Nilotes and Nubians continue to believe in the spirits of their ancestors and, in general, do not intend to change their national traditions.
The 2011 referendum showed the unanimous desire of southerners to secede, and the world community recognized their right to an independent state. But the issue of the disputed territories of Abya, which according to some maps belonged to the South, and according to others to the North, remains unresolved. According to the agreements of the parties, which were signed in January 2005 by Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and Dr. John Garant, elected vice-president of Sudan and president of the semi-autonomous government of South Sudan, a referendum was also to be held in these disputed territories in 2011 so that the local the Negroid population decided for itself whom to join. However, the official did not provide Abye with such an opportunity, not wanting to lose the oil fields explored in this area.
The relief of South Sudan is generally similar to neighboring parts of Africa: it is an alternation of flat, vast basins with thick layers of sedimentary deposits and crystalline massifs separating them, cut by the White Nile Valley. In the center of the country lies the Sudd swamp. Since floods are frequent in this area, villages are built on hills or mesa.
The natural diversity of ecoregions, athletic competitions of the athletic Dinka, cattle farms and indigenous villages, as well as several historic cathedrals of carved stone and stained glass - all this South Sudan will demonstrate to those who dare to explore this "dark side of the moon" (as they put it). white compilers of the first tourist guide to South Sudan).
The Sudd Swamp, with an area of 30 thousand km 2 (and during a flood, all 130 thousand km 2), stretches across the center of South Sudan and is part of the White Nile water system. The White Nile flows through the entire South Sudan and its main city of Juba, and already upstream it merges in the territory of Northern Sudan with the Blue Nile flowing from Ethiopia. Khartoum once grew on the spout of the White and Blue Nile, then the Nile itself flows towards the Red Sea - famous since Ancient Egypt river.
The landscape of South Sudan is a huge Sudd wetland, where about 400 species of birds nest, as well as green meadows, high plateaus and escarpments, wooded and grassy savannas (regions home to large populations of kongoni, kob, topi, buffalo, elephants, giraffes, and lions), floodplains of rivers (the White Nile and its tributaries. Most of the country is covered with monsoon (tropical) forests, in the extreme south equatorial forests grow. Along the river valleys there are gallery forests, and the spurs of the Central African Plateau and the Ethiopian Highlands are covered with mountain forests. According to the World Fund wildlife, the East Sudanese savannah, the Northern Congolese forest-steppe, the Sudda, the Sahel and the East African foothill forests require international protection, i.e. they may eventually receive the status of international reserves.
The young government of South Sudan itself intends to continue to protect the country's natural resources from irrational use, pollution and forest fires. In addition, due to the climate, the country suffers from floods every year (last year the flood was especially severe and there were casualties).
South Sudan is a very poor and economically backward country, despite its rich oil reserves. Elimination of the consequences of natural disasters and epidemics of tropical diseases (malaria, cholera, “black fever”, etc.) is hampered by the almost complete absence of paved roads - until recently there were no more than 50 km of them throughout the country (the main “road” is the White Nile ), technology, financing and specialists.
Not only the colonial authorities considered these territories as a raw materials appendage, but also the central authorities of independent Sudan: in the 55 years that have passed since liberation from the Anglo-Egyptian condominium, official Khartoum practically did not invest in the economy of the South, and not immediately (after many years of civil war, which led in some areas to a humanitarian catastrophe and acts of genocide) agreed to share the proceeds from oil pumped from the southern fields. Currently, there is practically no health care here, the population is often hungry, and most of them are illiterate (almost all women are illiterate). But unlike the North, which expelled representatives of humanitarian organizations from its territory, the South does not refuse help from the international community. The government of South Sudan hopes to soon emerge from the crisis in which its previously powerless country was in long years. At the same time, the economy of Northern Sudan has been experiencing serious difficulties since 2011. Inflation there is about 40% per year.

general information

A new Christian state in sub-Saharan Africa, proclaimed in 2011: poor and backward, but with large oil reserves.

Location: In the southern part of the former unified Sudan.
Official name: Republic of South Sudan (RSS).
Date of declaration of independence: July 9, 2011

Capital and largest city: Juba - 372,410 people. (2011), but a decision has already been made to move the capital to the city of Ramsel in the state of Ozerny.
Administrative division: 10 states.

Turkish-Egyptian period: 1835-1885

Anglo-Egyptian period: 1899-1956, "Southern Politics" of North-South separation: 1922-1945.

Civil wars: 1955-1972, 1983-2005

Languages: English; African dialects of local tribes.

Ethnic composition: African tribes Dinka, Nuer, Azande, Bari and Shilluk, Latuko, Pari, etc.
Religions: Christianity; local African beliefs (animism).

Currency unit: South Sudanese pound, Sudanese pound.

Largest bodies of water: White Nile and Sudd swamp.

Neighboring territories: Ethiopia in the east, Kenya, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo in the south and Central African Republic in the west. In the north, the border with North Sudan is not fixed.

Numbers

Area: 619,745 km2.

Population: 8,260,490 people. (2008) (according to various sources, from 7.5 to 13 million people).

Population density: 13.33 people/km 2 .

Length of borders: with Ethiopia - 883 km, Kenya - 232 km, Uganda - 435 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo - 628 km, Central African Republic - 682 km, with Sudan - 1973 km.

Average altitude: 200-400 m above sea level.
Highest point: 3187 m above sea level (Mount Kinyeti).

Climate and weather

Subequatorial savanna.

Rain falls most of the year, stopping only for 2-4 months. The most precipitation is in May - October. Floods occur every year.
Average annual temperature: +29°С.

Average annual precipitation: from 700 mm in the north to 1400 mm in the southwest.

Economy

More than 80% of Sudan's proven oil is located in the South and the disputed border areas (Abya), but only after the conclusion of the Comprehensive Peace Agreements (CPA) in 2005 did South Sudan begin to receive royalties from oil revenues from the Khartoum government (oil transit for export exclusively via a pipeline through North Sudan). ■ Swampy areas of Sudd and Southern National Park near the border with Congo - unique natural formations home to large populations of kongoni, kob, topi, buffalo, elephants, giraffes, and lions; More than 400 bird species nest there.
■ Mount Kinyeti on the border with Uganda - the highest point in the country.
■ Cathedrals of South Sudan- religious monuments and examples of stained glass art and stone carving.
■ Cattlemen's camp Dinka tribe.
■ Other: rafting on the Nile River; Bor (wrestling) is a national sport.

Curious facts

■ The coat of arms of South Sudan depicts a secretary bird, endemic to African savannas and grasslands. The bird is famous for its vitality and endurance. For example, it hunts its prey - including snakes, small mammals, lizards and even young gazelles - on foot. She is held in high esteem cultural heritage in many African countries.
■ The name Sudan comes from the Arabic phrase “bilad al-sudan” - “country of the blacks”.
■ The oil-bearing region of Darfur, which is part of Northern Sudan, with its Negroid tribes suffering from the arbitrariness of the authorities (the head of the country, Omar al-Bashir, is wanted by the International Court on charges of crimes against humanity for genocide in Darfur in 2004-2010), also rejects rule by the Arab government from Khartoum. But neither Darfur nor the disputed Abya territories were given the right to hold a referendum on self-determination.
■ The leader of the South Sudan People's Liberation Army, Dr. Garant, who was elected on July 9, 2005 as vice-president of Sudan and the first president of the southern autonomy, died in a plane crash exactly three weeks after taking office (April 30). According to the official version, “in poor visibility conditions, the helicopter crashed in a mountainous region of South Sudan, killing all on board.” John Garant came from poor family Dinka nationality, was orphaned at the age of 10, became a partisan at the age of 17, then the command sent him to study in Tanzania. After graduating, he returned to the partisans, during the years of the truce he was a professional military man (he rose to the rank of colonel in 11 years) and completed his studies in the USA (received academic degree Master's in Agricultural Economics and Doctor of Science in Economics).

South Sudan is a young state in the very center of the African continent. Previously, these lands were called Kush, then Nubia. For a long time these territories were part of Sudan, and only in 2011 they were declared independent.

In the east, the country borders Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya. The country shares its southern borders with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and its northern borders with Sudan. To the west, South Sudan borders the Central African Republic. The country has no access to the sea.

At the moment the capital is the city Juba, however, the government plans to move it to the city Ramsel.

The country is divided into several historical regions: Upper Nile, Bahr el Ghazal And Equatoria.


Population	8,260,490 people (2008)

Population density	13.33 people/km²
	English
Religion	Christianity
Form of government	republic
	Sudanese pound, South Sudanese pound
Timezone
International dialing code
Domain zone
Electricity

Climate and weather

The climate in South Sudan is subequatorial. It's quite humid here. The thermometer rises to +35...+38 °C and fluctuates slightly throughout the year. Only during drought periods does the temperature drop noticeably at night.

During the year, up to 700 mm of precipitation falls in the north of the country, and in the southwest - up to 1400 mm. The dry period lasts from November to March. In the south of the country there is another dry season in June-July.

The best time to travel to South Sudan is from late July to October.

Nature

Part of the country's territory is within the region swamps Sudd. This marshy area was formed by tributaries White Nile which locals call Bahr el Abyal. The river crosses the country from the south and has many tributaries.

The territory of South Sudan is located at an altitude of 200-400 meters above sea level. There are also small mountains in the southwest of the country, and in the southeast there are mountains of the system Great African Rift.

Almost throughout the entire country there are forests, which are clearly divided into two types. In the north there is a series of swamps and lowlands, overgrown with floodplain tropical forests, which turn into dry savannas and flooded meadows. In the south of the country there are dense equatorial forests (in the floodplains) and East African dry forests (in the foothills).

In the east, closer to the Ethiopian Highlands, grassy steppes and semi-desert zones begin.

As for the fauna, they live here different kinds antelopes, elephants, lions, giraffes, hyenas, crocodiles and buffaloes - and this is far from full list. There are 12 reserves and 6 national reserves organized in the country.

Attractions

The main attraction of South Sudan is its nature. Here are the areas with the second largest animal migration in the world.

Unique places are the national Boma Park And South National Park near the border with Congo. It is home to large populations of kongoni, kob antelope, buffalo, topi, giraffe, elephant and lion.

The entire country is covered with forests, which can be divided into two types: tropical monsoon and equatorial. The river valleys are overgrown with gallery forests, which are quite sparse. In such forests you can find mahogany, teak, and rubber vines.

The Ethiopian Highlands and the Central African Plateau are covered with mountain forests and shrubs.

Nutrition

The national cuisine of South Sudan has not yet been fully formed, since the state was formed quite recently. However, it is already possible to note some regularities in cooking and dishes beloved by local residents.

The traditions of French, English and Italian cuisine are mixed here. There are also Egyptian notes in the taste of local dishes.

The basis of national dishes is beans, beans, eggplants, peppers, as well as sauces, herbs, hot spices, garlic and onions.

The meat usually prepared here is lamb and chicken. Rice or various vegetables that are steamed, fried or canned are most often served as a side dish.

Try the dish ful. These are beans and legumes that are cooked with meat, vegetables and lots of seasonings. It will be interesting to try sorghum pilaf. Quite popular are kebab, kalavi and traditional sweater.

Desserts here are usually prepared by hand. They are usually very sweet and have a lot of cream.

In South Sudan they drink a wide variety of teas and coffee, but alcohol is prohibited.

Accommodation

There are not many hotels in South Sudan. All of them are concentrated in Juba and in several more major cities. By African standards, the hotels are very good: the rooms have hot water, TV, air conditioning and a refrigerator. For such a double room you will have to pay about $100. The same single room will cost you $75 per night.

Breakfast is not included in the price. Additional features(like a spa or casino) you won’t find at the hotel.

It is almost impossible to rent housing here, and few people would agree to the conditions in which the locals live: dilapidated houses with thatched roofs, lack of running water and sewerage...

Entertainment and relaxation

There are probably only a few things to do for tourists in South Sudan. One of them is safari. Local authorities assign big hopes that safaris and local national parks will attract tourists to the country.

For a safari, you need to obtain a permit - then you will even be given assistance when visiting the parks: they will provide security and show you the best places.

Another type of active recreation is walking. True, there are no particularly picturesque places here, but there is more than enough exoticism!

Also in the capital of South Sudan you can visit cafes and restaurants. In small towns there are none, but in Juba you will find very colorful places, although only in the city center.

Purchases

You always want to take with you a piece of the country you visited as a souvenir. To make South Sudan memorable for a long time, you can bring African jewelry as souvenirs. A variety of products from local craftsmen also deserve attention.

Particularly worth highlighting are African tribal masks, sculptures, wooden figurines and totems that tourists bring from South Sudan as souvenirs. African tribes are famous for their craftsmanship natural materials. Such things have a certain magical or religious meaning for them.

Figurines of zebras, giraffes, elephants and rhinoceroses will be a good purchase. self made from noble wood. You may also find the works of local artists interesting.

If you want to add the flavor of Africa to your life, bring wooden utensils from your trip and ceramic vases with African patterns. Woolen carpets, which are woven by local women from threads of rich colors, are also suitable for this.

A magnificent and expensive gift from South Sudan will be figurines of animals and birds made of precious metals and stones. Products made from crocodile and snake skin are also held in high esteem.

People often buy national clothes, bright African dresses or safari suits as souvenirs.

In the markets of South Sudan you can also buy original products made from palm bast and reed, and elephant grass.

Transport

Transport in South Sudan is poorly developed. Although there are 23 airports in the country, only 2 of them are paved.

The roads here are in very poor condition, many of them are in disrepair. There are practically no paved roads.

Things are no better with railways. Their length is 236 kilometers, and they are also located in in emergency condition. There are plans to develop the network, but now the country simply does not have the funds.

Public transport is only available in and between major cities. These are usually very old buses or trains. Travel there is inexpensive.

You can use the services of local residents who will take you to the right place for a reasonable fee.

Connection

Mobile communications here comply with the GSM 900 standard. Roaming is provided by 2 Russian operators cellular communication- Beeline and Megafon. Reception throughout the country is unstable.

There are also two local operators in South Sudan: Mobitel and Sudatel. Their tariffs are based on prepayment; at all post offices you can buy special cards to pay for communications.

Banks and post offices have pay phones, cards for which can be purchased there. Local calls are very cheap, but international calls will cost you much more.

All major cities have internet cafes. You can also make video calls from them. Headphones and microphone rental are paid separately.

There is Internet in hotels, cafes and restaurants.

Safety

The criminal situation in South Sudan is quite tense. There are often complaints of extortion even from the police.

Another danger that may await a traveler in Sudan is infection. You need to be very picky about what you eat, eat only processed foods, drink only bottled or boiled water!

Before traveling, you must be vaccinated against malaria, cholera, tetanus, typhoid and meningitis

Business climate

The country has only recently gained independence, so legislation in the field of entrepreneurship has not been fully formed. Corruption is rampant here, so it is incredibly difficult to resolve any issues regarding any documentation legally.

The country's economy is extremely unstable, so investing in it will be very risky.

A lot of oil is produced here, but this has little effect on the country's economy. The region is also rich in other natural resources such as gold, silver, copper, iron ore, and zinc. Investments in the development of their deposits have some prospects.

Real estate

South Sudan's property market is hardly a source of interest. There are no conditions for investment here, and for personal purposes such housing can hardly be called attractive. There is no running water or sewerage here. Electricity is only available in the central areas of Juba and is available only to rich people.

The houses themselves here present a rather pitiful sight: made of clay, with thatched roofs, without windows... In a word, one can only dream of comfort here.

Traveling around South Sudan is not safe, so be sure to take care of medical insurance.

It is also better to make copies of the documents you take with you.

On your trip, pack a good first aid kit, and take hygiene products with an antiseptic effect. In the first aid kit you should take medications for gastrointestinal disorders and antimalarial drugs.

To get into national parks, you need to apply for and pay for special permits, but you will not be allowed to film there. For excursions to parks and reserves, it is better to choose comfortable shoes.

South Sudan, officially the Republic of South Sudan, is a state in Africa with its capital in the city of Juba. It borders Ethiopia in the east, Kenya, Uganda and the DRC in the south, the Central African Republic in the west and the Republic of Sudan in the north. Area - 619,745 km2. South Sudan's sovereign status came into effect on July 9, 2011, following the signing of a declaration declaring it an independent state. Member of the UN since July 14 of the same year.

At the time of the colonization of Africa by European countries, there were no state entities in South Sudan in the modern sense. Over the course of centuries of history, the Arabs also failed to integrate this region. Some progress occurred under Ottoman rule of Egypt, when in 1820-1821. The regime of Muhammad Ali, dependent on the Porte, began active colonization of the region.

During the period of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan (1898-1955), Great Britain tried to limit Islamic and Arab influence on South Sudan by introducing separate administration of the North and South of Sudan, respectively, and in 1922 even issued an Act introducing visas for the Sudanese population to travel between the two regions. At the same time, the Christianization of South Sudan was carried out. In 1956, the creation of a unified Sudanese state with the capital in Khartoum was proclaimed, and the dominance of politicians from the North, who tried to Arabize and Islamize the South, was consolidated in the governance of the country.

The signing of the Addis Ababa Agreement in 1972 led to the end of the 17-year First Civil War (1955-1972) between the Arab North and the Negroid South and the provision of some internal self-government to the South. After about a ten-year lull, Jafar Nimeiri, who seized power as a result of a military coup in 1969, resumed the policy of Islamization. The types of punishments provided for by Islamic law, such as stoning, public flogging and cutting off hands, were introduced into the country's criminal legislation, after which the armed conflict was resumed by the Sudan People's Liberation Army.

According to American estimates, in the two decades since the resumption of armed conflict in southern Sudan, government forces have killed about 2 million civilians. As a result of periodic droughts, famine, fuel shortages, expanding armed confrontation, and human rights violations, more than 4 million southerners were forced to leave their homes and flee to cities or to neighboring countries - Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and the Central African Republic, as well as to Egypt. Refugees are unable to farm land or otherwise earn a living, suffer from malnutrition and poor nutrition, and lack access to education and health care. The long-term war led to a humanitarian catastrophe.

To resolve the conflict, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon visited South Sudan in September 2007. The international community brought peacekeeping and humanitarian forces into the conflict zone. During the 6-year temporary period, the southern authorities organized fairly complete and effective control of their territory by the current Government of South Sudan with all ministries, including the armed forces and law enforcement agencies. By all accounts, the ability and desire of the non-Arab region to live independently was not in doubt. In June 2010, the United States announced that it would welcome the emergence of a new state if the referendum was successful. On the eve of the referendum, on January 4, 2011, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, during a visit to the South Sudanese capital of Juba, promised to recognize any results of the plebiscite, and even expressed his readiness to take part in official celebrations on the occasion of the formation of a new state if southerners vote for independence in the referendum. In addition, he promised freedom of movement between the two countries, offered to help southerners create a safe and stable state, and also organize an equal union of two states like the European Union if the South gains independence. As a result of the positive outcome of the referendum, the new state was proclaimed on July 9, 2011.

South Sudan independence referendum

From January 9 to January 15, 2011, a referendum on independence from Sudan was held in South Sudan. In addition, a referendum was supposed to be held in areas near the city of Abyei on the issue of joining South Sudan, but it was postponed. On December 22, 2009, the Sudanese Parliament approved a law establishing the rules for the 2011 referendum. On May 27, 2010, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir promised to hold a referendum on self-determination for South Sudan as scheduled in January 2011. Employees of the UNDP and other international organizations took an active part in the preparation for the referendum, providing, among other things, financial assistance. The official results of the referendum were announced on February 7, according to them, 98.83% of the total number of valid ballots were cast in favor of the secession of South Sudan. The official proclamation of the new state took place on July 9, 2011; until this date, Sudan continued to exist as a single state.

A number of states have announced that they intend to recognize the independence of South Sudan after July 9, 2011. The Sudanese government welcomed the referendum result and said it planned to open an embassy in Juba after the state was split in two, while neighboring countries also welcomed the region's independence. Egypt became one of the first countries to declare its intention to recognize South Sudan. Britain plans to open an embassy in South Sudan.

Administrative divisions of South Sudan

South Sudan includes 10 states - former wilayats of Sudan (the territory occupied is indicated in brackets): Warab (31,027 km2), Upper Nile (77,773 km2), Eastern Equatoria (82,542 km2), Jonglei (122,479 km2), Western Equatoria (79,319 km2), Western Bahr el Ghazal (93,900 km2), Western Upper Nile (35,956 km2), Lakes (40,235 km2), Northern Bahr el Ghazal (33,558 km2), Central Equatoria (22 956 km2).

Population of South Sudan

The official language of the country is English. Most South Sudanese speak a variety of Nilotic, Adamawa-Ubangi, Central Sudanese and other languages and dialects, the largest of which is Dinka. Religion in South Sudan is a set of religious beliefs inherent in the peoples of South Sudan. The majority of the population of South Sudan professes either Christianity or traditional African animist religions, which to a certain extent led to a clash with the Muslim North.

In the southern part of the country both pagan and Christian influences predominate, reflected in the lives of the local population, although Islam is also practiced by a small number of the population. ChristianityIn addition to Catholic communities, the country has Anglican parishes and structures of various charismatic Christian denominations.

The number of Catholics in South Sudan is about 1 million 700 thousand people (about 22% of the total population). Most adherents of Catholicism live in the southern states of Eastern Equatoria, Central Equatoria and Western Equatoria, where Catholics form a significant majority. The smallest number of Catholics lives in the Upper Nile state (45,000 people out of a total population of 2 million 750 thousand people).

Health care system in South Sudan

South Sudan's health care system is poorly developed, which, coupled with the country's overall low literacy rate as well as poor infrastructure, seriously hampers disease control. Malaria and cholera are common in South Sudan. Despite international intervention, many residents do not have access to qualified medical care, which was one of the reasons for the outbreak of black fever in 2010.

South Sudan is home to a number of rare diseases not found anywhere outside the region. For example, in the southern part of the country there is a rare disease of unknown origin called nodule syndrome. It is distributed over a relatively small area and affects mainly children from 5 to 15 years old. As of 2011, the number of cases is several thousand. Neither the cause of the disease nor its treatment are known.

Climate of South Sudan

The dry period in the region lasts only 1 month. Annual precipitation ranges from 700 mm in the north to about 1400 mm in the southwest. All of South Sudan is covered with forests, which are divided into two parts. These are monsoon (tropical) forests in the south, and equatorial forests in the far south, that is, monsoon (25%) and equatorial (5%).

Economy of South Sudan

The economy of South Sudan is one of the typical African underdeveloped ones economic systems. South Sudan is one of the poorest countries in the world.

Oil - main resource country on which the entire economy of South Sudan relies. Of the 500 thousand barrels of oil produced in Sudan, about 75% of oil production comes from fields in the South. Since oil-bearing areas are located mainly in South Sudan, since July 9, 2011, Northern Sudan has been cut off from them. However, Northern Sudan controls the pipelines through which oil is exported, and therefore each side has its own interests in issues related to the distribution of oil profits. South Sudan's Minister of Investment, Colonel General Oyai Deng Ajak, has repeatedly stated the need for an international solution to the issue of the Abyei oil region.

South Sudan exports timber to the international market. Teak forest areas are located in Kavala, Lijo, Loka West and Nuni. Western equatorial timber resources are located in Mvuba (Zamoi). The region is rich natural resources, such as iron ore, copper, chromium ores, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold and hydropower.

The country's economy, like many other developing countries, is largely dependent on Agriculture. Some agricultural products items include: cotton, peanuts, sorghum, millet, wheat, gum arabic, sugar cane, tapioca, mango, papaya, bananas, sweet potatoes and sesame. In the central equatorial part, the plantations are located on Kegulu.

Until 1992, the country's currency was the dinar, which was replaced by the Sudanese pound. On July 9, 2011, the South Sudanese pound was introduced in South Sudan, which will begin full circulation throughout the country in August.

Russia is poorly represented in the sector foreign trade South Sudan. Large Russian companies are absent in the country, and economic interaction is sporadic, mainly in the sphere of Russian supplies of equipment and weapons.

Source - http://ru.wikipedia.org/

On July 9, a new, 194th state appeared on the world map - South Sudan. It is not difficult to guess that this is part of the currently existing largest African state Sudan.

The declaration of South Sudan, with Juba as its capital, was the final step in the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement reached in 2005 between the Sudan People's Liberation Army and the central government in Khartoum. The multi-year civil war that preceded this was an expression of the disagreement of the inhabitants of South Sudan with the Arabization and Islamization carried out by the country’s leaders, who came from the North. In January 2011, South Sudan held a peaceful independence referendum in the presence of many international observers, with almost 99 percent of the ballots accepted as valid for secession from Sudan. The population of South Sudan, according to various sources, ranges from 7.5 to 13 million people.

Morgan Roach, an employee of the Washington-based Heritage Foundation, commented on the historical significance of the emergence of the state of South Sudan:

– There was a civil war in South Sudan for several decades, which split the country into two parts; two million people died during it. South Sudan's independence is the culmination of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, promoting self-determination for those living in the territory. On the African continent, there are frequent cases of actual internal division of a number of countries along the North-South principle. However, the secession of South Sudan is almost unprecedented in that this part of the country has long sought independence - and eventually received it.

– What was the role of the United States in obtaining the independence of South Sudan?

“Although the United States has historically had a strained relationship with the government in Khartoum, Washington played an incredibly important role in the negotiations that led to the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement. The Bush administration assisted both opposing sides in Sudan at every stage of the South's preparations for secession. The continuity of the current White House administration in this process was initially weak, but has noticeably strengthened in the last year. Now a new stage of support is coming, related to solving a lot of problems in South Sudan. This society is underdeveloped, with virtually no signs of statehood; the education system, healthcare, infrastructure are no good. The US government intends to partner with the government of South Sudan to help raise the country to greater heights. high level development.

– Obviously, there are still problems related to the interests of Khartoum, that is, the North?

– It was assumed that many of these problems would be resolved before July 9. But that did not happen. In particular, the question remains open about who should go to the border region of Abyei, in which a separate referendum was supposed to be held in January of this year, but did not take place. It was postponed indefinitely due to a dispute over the participation rights of the nomadic Misseriya tribe, which supports the northerners. At the end of May, in response to the actions of the army of the South, the armed forces of the North occupied Abyei. The recently reached agreement on the creation of a demilitarized zone in Abyei with the deployment of Ethiopian peacekeepers there is not final decision Problems. Another issue concerns citizenship. What to do with southerners living in the North, and vice versa? Neither side is willing to provide asylum to stateless persons. The issue remains unresolved.

– How significant is the factor of oil fields in Sudan?

– Oil is Sudan’s most important resource. The entire economy of the country relies on it. Since the oil fields are located mainly in South Sudan, the North will be essentially cut off from them starting July 9. However, the northerners control the pipelines through which Sudanese oil is exported. Each side has its own interests, so they will have to agree on many issues related to the distribution of oil profits. Here I foresee differences remaining for some time after the division of the country.

– Achieving state independence is not yet a guarantee against becoming a failed state under the weight of problems. How relevant is this to South Sudan?

– In South Sudan, the government is essentially taking only its first steps, although its leader Salva Kiir has been considered president for almost six years. The Sudan People's Liberation Army, which he leads, has yet to establish itself as a central government that they will respect and look to. The governments in both Khartoum and Juba will have to write their own constitutions, as mandated by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. That is, the challenges are really serious. Much will now depend on the South Sudanese themselves - after all, they persistently sought this.

I think that in the nation-building of South Sudan, the United States will play the role of advisor, as before, in the process of reconciliation with the North. US President Barack Obama once said that his policy towards Africa would be based not on patronage, but on partnership. Washington is using partnerships with other African countries to help the government of independent South Sudan, as they say, help itself by providing it with the tools and resources to develop its infrastructure and economy at the first, most difficult stage. The United States has always steadfastly supported South Sudan and will continue to do so in the future,” said Morgan Roach.

US Special Envoy to Sudan Princeton Lyman called on the international community to support the governments of Sudan and South Sudan in resolving issues between them and laying the foundations for two viable, peacefully neighboring states.

Story:
At the time of the colonization of Africa by European countries, there were no state entities in South Sudan in the modern sense. Over the course of centuries of history, the Arabs also failed to integrate this region. Some progress occurred under Ottoman rule of Egypt, when in 1820-1821. The regime of Muhammad Ali, dependent on the Porte, began active colonization of the region.

During the period of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan (1898-1955), Great Britain tried to limit Islamic and Arab influence on South Sudan by introducing separate administration of the North and South of Sudan, respectively, and in 1922 even issued an Act introducing visas for the Sudanese population to travel between the two regions. At the same time, the Christianization of South Sudan was carried out. In 1956, the creation of a unified Sudanese state with the capital in Khartoum was proclaimed, and the dominance of politicians from the North, who tried to Arabize and Islamize the South, was consolidated in the governance of the country.

The signing of the Addis Ababa Agreement in 1972 led to the end of the 17-year First Civil War (1955-1972) between the Arab North and the Negroid South and the provision of some internal self-government to the South.

After about a ten-year lull, Jafar Nimeiri, who seized power as a result of a military coup in 1969, resumed the policy of Islamization. The types of punishments provided for by Islamic law, such as stoning, public flogging and cutting off hands, were introduced into the country's criminal legislation, after which the armed conflict was resumed by the Sudan People's Liberation Army.

In the two decades since the resumption of armed conflict in southern Sudan, government forces have killed about 2 million civilians. As a result of periodic droughts, famine, fuel shortages, expanding armed confrontation, and human rights violations, more than 4 million southerners were forced to leave their homes and flee to cities or to neighboring countries - Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and the Central African Republic, as well as to Egypt. Refugees are unable to farm land or otherwise earn a living, suffer from malnutrition and poor nutrition, and lack access to education and health care. The long-term war led to a humanitarian catastrophe.

Negotiations between the rebels and the government in 2003-2004 formally ended the 22-year second civil war, although isolated armed clashes took place in a number of southern regions later. On January 9, 2005, the Naivasha Agreement was signed in Kenya, granting autonomy to the region, and the leader of the South, John Garang, became Vice President of Sudan. South Sudan received the right, after 6 years of autonomy, to hold a referendum on its independence. Revenues from oil production during this period were, according to the agreement, to be divided equally between the central government and the leadership of the southern autonomy. This somewhat relieved the tense situation. However, on July 30, 2005, Garang died in a helicopter crash, and the situation began to heat up again.

The international community brought peacekeeping and humanitarian forces into the conflict zone. During the 6-year temporary period, the southern authorities organized fairly complete and effective control of their territory by the current Government of South Sudan with all ministries, including the armed forces and law enforcement agencies. By all accounts, the ability and desire of the non-Arab region to live independently was not in doubt. In June 2010, the United States announced that it would welcome the emergence of a new state if the referendum was successful. On the eve of the referendum, on January 4, 2011, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, during a visit to the South Sudanese capital of Juba, promised to recognize any results of the plebiscite, and even expressed his readiness to take part in official celebrations on the occasion of the formation of a new state if southerners vote for independence in the referendum. In addition, he promised freedom of movement between the two countries, offered to help southerners create a safe and stable state, and also organize an equal union of two states like the European Union if the South gains independence. As a result of the positive outcome of the referendum, the new 194th state was proclaimed on July 9, 2011.

A number of states have announced that they intend to recognize the independence of South Sudan after July 9, 2011. The Sudanese government welcomed the referendum result and said it planned to open an embassy in Juba after the state split into two parts, while neighboring countries also welcomed the region's independence. Egypt became one of the first countries to declare its intention to recognize South Sudan. Britain plans to open an embassy in South Sudan.

Administrative division

South Sudan includes 10 states - former wilayats of Sudan (the territory occupied is indicated in brackets):

Warab (31,027 km²)
Upper Nile (77,773 km²)
Eastern Equatoria (82,542 km²)
Jonglei (122,479 km²)
Western Equatoria (79,319 km²)
Western Bahr el Ghazal (93,900 km²)
Western Upper Nile (35,956 km²)
Ozerny (40,235 km²)
Northern Bahr el Ghazal (33,558 km²)
Central Equatoria (22,956 km²)

Population

The official language of the country is English, although most of the population does not know it and Arabic continues to be the language of international communication. Most South Sudanese speak a variety of Adamawa-Ubangi, Nilotic, Nubian, Central Sudanese and other languages and dialects, the largest of which is Dinka.

In Royal Primary school In the village of Bor, classes are taught by the students themselves until the teacher appears. This school is private and represents a better alternative to the training that can be obtained in many public schools South Sudan.

Special water tankers deliver unfiltered water directly from the Nile to residents of South Sudan's fast-growing capital, Juba. Before the outbreak of the civil war, Juba was connected by highways with neighboring states. But now the roads have fallen into complete disrepair, and electricity and running water, as such, can be said to have never existed in the city. Juba will have to make a lot of efforts to develop the necessary infrastructure.

Many visitors to Juba may think that the city is in the midst of a gold rush. The city is flooded with streams of small traders and workers, attracted by promises of peace and work. South Sudan's restive capital has tripled in size since 2005, but authorities have failed to provide even basic amenities to its residents.

Malaria and cholera are common in South Sudan. Despite international intervention, many residents do not have access to qualified medical care, which was one of the reasons for the outbreak of black fever in 2010.

Climate

The capital of the new country is the city of Juba.

Juba. Capital of South Sudan. 170 thousand people. Big village. Streets without names and houses without numbers, mostly made of clay and straw. Without a certificate of vaccination against yellow fever, they will not be allowed here, and without local registration they will not be released later. For a hundred dollars they put it right at the airport.

It’s hot, at 9 am it’s already 40 degrees: the equator is only 500 kilometers away. Malaria, according to the WHO, kills one child every thirty seconds in Africa. Children under three years of age are not registered due to high mortality. There is no running water. Sewers too. The main source of water is the White Nile, a tributary of the Great Nile. Nile water is drunk without any purification. City wastewater also drains here.

Improvised landfills. There is paper at every step, plastic bottles, broken furniture, torn clothes.

“The Church believes that people of all faiths should strive to live peacefully. Unfortunately, the history of our country, in which the north is Muslim and the south is Catholic, shows that this is very difficult,” says Padre Hallari Morb.

Five years ago there was a civil war here. The history of modern Sudan is, in general, a continuous war with little respite. The current peace between north and south has lasted for five years - one of the longest respites.

And here is a sign: “Military zone. No burial here.” In total, the war claimed the lives of about two million people in southern Sudan.

This is the number one post in South Sudan. John Garang, the founder of the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement and the country's first vice-president, is buried here. He died in a helicopter accident in 2005.

Colonel Gorang assembled the rebel army of the southerners from deserters of the Sudanese army. So 27 years ago another civil war began between north and south. It lasted more than twenty years and ended with a peace agreement - the actual recognition of southern independence.

Here they publish a newspaper for the South Sudanese intellectual elite, as Citizen positions itself.

“Our audience is an educated part of society, people who understand the need for their own effective government. We are even going to publish two versions of newspapers: for the south and for the north,” Nial Bol shares his immediate plans.

The newspaper's editor-in-chief, Nial Bol, comes to his “office” every day at eight in order to have time to conduct a planning meeting. From twelve to four days You can forget about work - the heat is merciless. Air conditioning is a rarity in Juba; only ministries have them.

Ulufa Maimau is one of the few who agrees to be photographed. She sells flour at the city market. Revenue for half a day - 4 pounds, almost 2 dollars. With this, you can buy a cup of coffee or a couple of bottles of mineral water at a roadside cafe.

“Four pounds a day was once something I could only dream of!” - admits the market woman.

During the civil war, her family, like thousands of Sudanese, was forced to flee the city from looters. They lived in the forest, in a dugout. The children starved for weeks. Today they have their own house, cakes made from flour and water are on the table every day.

“It was very difficult,” recalls war time Uluf Maimau. “Today, although we are not poor, we live very modestly.”

Debola Market is one of the most popular places in the capital of South Sudan. It opens to visitors at eight thirty, and traders come here very early, at seven in the morning.

Hi, how are you?

Okay, we just started trading.

Is this your family business?
- Yes!
- How many people?
- We are five brothers, we sell vegetables.
- Yes, a big family! Well, have a nice day!

Grain, vegetables - from Juba, basins - from Uganda. Used Cell Phones, beer, whiskey - here you can buy everything: from Made in Nigeria underwear to logs. Shields woven from reeds are taken by the truckload. These are sections for fencing, the way each family fences off their plot here.

There is a car wash next to the market. Open from sunrise to sunset. The washers are mostly children. They charge three dollars per car. The foreman collects the proceeds. The water is straight from the White Nile. This is where washers wash off dirt after a day of work.

City life is concentrated along five kilometers of asphalt road. There is trade, cafes, and auto repair shops here.

In the city center, after a five-year break, a fountain, the only one in Juba, began operating. A tank of water was specially fitted for him, enough for 3 hours of work.

A very poor country that has gained its independence and, hopefully, peace, which still has so much to do.

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