"Southern Sudan" redirects here. For the former autonomous regions of Sudan, see Government of Southern Sudan (1972–1983) and Government of Southern Sudan (2005–2011). Republic of South Sudan Flag Coat of arms Motto: "Justice, Liberty, Prosperity" Anthem: "South Sudan Oyee!" Capital Juba (and largest city) 04°51′N 31°36′E4.85°N 31.6°E [1][2] Official language(s) English Recognized All South Sudanese national languages indigenous languages[3] Demonym South Sudanese Federal presidential Government democratic republic - President Salva Kiir Mayardit - Vice President Riek Machar Legislature National Legislature - Upper House Council of States - Lower House National Legislative Assembly Independence from Sudan - Comprehensive Peace 6 January 2005 Agreement - Autonomy 9 July 2005 - Independence 9 July 2011 Area - 619,745 km2 (45th) Total 239,285 sq mi Population - 2008 census 8,260,490 (disputed)[4] (94th) GDP (nominal) 2011 estimate - Total $13.227 billion [5] - Per capita $1,546 [5] Currency South Sudanese pound (SSP) Time zone East Africa Time (UTC+3) Drives on the right ISO 3166 code SS .ss[6] (registered but not yet Internet TLD operational) [7] Calling code +211 South Sudan ( i/ˌsaʊθ suːˈdæn/ or /suːˈdɑːn/), officially the Republic of South Sudan,[8] is a landlocked country usually considered to be a part of North Africa[9] or Eastern Africa. Its current capital is Juba, which is also its largest city; the capital city is planned to be moved to the more centrally-located Ramciel in the future.[10] South Sudan is bordered by Ethiopia to the east, Kenya to the southeast, Uganda to the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the southwest, the Central African Republic to the west, and Sudan to the north. South Sudan includes the vast swamp region of the Sudd formed by the White Nile, locally called the Bahr al Jabal. What are now the modern states of South Sudan and Sudan were part of Egypt under the Muhammad Ali Dynasty, later being governed as an Anglo-Egyptian condominium until Sudanese independence was achieved in 1956. Following the First Sudanese Civil War, the Southern Sudan Autonomous Region was formed in 1972 and lasted until 1983. A second Sudanese civil war soon developed and ended with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005. 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.[11][12] On 14 July 2011, South Sudan became a United Nations member state.[13][14] It joined the African Union on 28 July 2011.[15] South Sudan is one of the poorest countries with possibly the worst health situation in the world.[16] Contents 1 History 2 Politics o 2.1 Government . 2.1.1 Military . 2.1.2 Developing state capacity . 2.1.3 National capital project o 2.2 States and counties o 2.3 Media o 2.4 Foreign relations o 2.5 Human rights 3 Geography o 3.1 Fauna, flora, and mycobiota 4 Demographics o 4.1 Education o 4.2 Languages . 4.2.1 Indigenous languages . 4.2.2 Nonindigenous languages o 4.3 Population . 4.3.1 2008 census . 4.3.2 2009 census o 4.4 Religion 5 Culture o 5.1 Games and sports 6 Economy o 6.1 Oil 7 Transport o 7.1 Railway o 7.2 Air 8 Humanitarian situation 9 See also 10 References 11 Further reading 12 External links o 12.1 Government [edit] History Main article: History of South Sudan The Nilotic peoples—the Dinka, Nuer, Shilluk and others—first entered South Sudan sometime before the 10th century. During the period from the 15th century to the 19th century, tribal migrations, largely from the area of Bahr el Ghazal, brought these peoples to their modern locations. The non-Nilotic Azande people, who entered South Sudan in the 16th century, established the region's largest state. The Azande are the third or fourth largest ethnic group in South Sudan (either the Azande or the Bari are third largest). They are found in the Maridi, Yambio, and Tambura districts in the tropical rainforest belt of Western Equatoria and Western Bahr el Ghazal. In the 18th century, the Avungara sib rose to power over the rest of Azande society and this domination continued into the 20th century.[17] Geographical barriers prevented the spread of Islam to the southerners, thus enabling them to retain their social and cultural heritage as well as their political and religious institutions. John Garang de Mabior led the Sudan People's Liberation Army until his death in 2005. The Azande have had difficult relations with the neighbours, namely the Moru, Mundu, Pöjulu, and the small groups in Bahr el Ghazal, due to the expansionist policy of their King, Gbudwe, in the 18th century. In the nineteenth century the Azande fought the French, the Belgians and the Mahdists to maintain their independence. Egypt, under the rule of Khedive Isma'il Pasha, first attempted to control the region in the 1870s, establishing the province of Equatoria in the southern portion. Egypt's first governor was Samuel Baker, commissioned in 1869, followed by Charles George Gordon in 1874 and by Emin Pasha in 1878. The Mahdist Revolt of the 1880s destabilised the nascent province, and Equatoria ceased to exist as an Egyptian outpost in 1889. Important settlements in Equatoria included Lado, Gondokoro, Dufile and Wadelai. In 1947, British hopes to join South Sudan with Uganda were dashed by the Juba Conference to unify North and South Sudan. It is estimated that South Sudan region has a population of 8 million,[18] but given the lack of a census in several decades, this estimate may be severely distorted. The economy is predominantly rural and relies chiefly on subsistence farming.[18] In the middle of the 2000s, the economy began a transition from this rural dominance and urban areas within South Sudan have seen extensive development. The region has been negatively affected by two civil wars since Sudanese independence – the Sudanese government fought the Anyanya rebel army from 1955 to 1972 in the First Sudanese Civil War and then the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M) in the Second Sudanese Civil War for almost twenty-one years after the founding of SPLA/M in 1983 – resulting in serious neglect, lack of infrastructural development, and major destruction and displacement. More than 2.5 million people have been killed, and more than 5 million have become externally displaced while others have been internally displaced, becoming refugees as a result of the civil war and war-related impacts. A referendum was held from 9 to 15 January 2011 to determine if South Sudan should declare its independence from Sudan, with 98.83% of the population voting for independence. (The results for that referendum were released on 30 January 2011.)[19] Those living in the north and expatriates living overseas also voted.[20] This led to a formal independence on 9 July, although certain disputes still remain such as sharing of the oil revenues as an estimated 80% of the oil in the nation is secured from South Sudan, which would represent amazing economic potential for one of the world's most deprived areas. The region of Abyei still remains disputed and a separate referendum will be held in Abyei on whether they want to join North or South Sudan.[21] The South Kordofan conflict broke out in June 2011 between the Army of Sudan and the SPLA over the Nuba Mountains. Interethnic warfare that in some cases precedes the war of independence is widespread. Some of these hostilities occurred in Jonglei state, affecting the Murle tribe, and were documented by Human Rights Watch in a 2009 report.[22] South Sudan is at war with at least seven armed groups in nine of its ten states, with tens of thousands displaced.[23] The fighters accuse the government of plotting to stay in power indefinitely, not fairly representing and supporting all tribal groups while neglecting development in rural areas.[23][24] [edit] Politics [edit] Government Main article: Politics of South Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit, the first elected President of South Sudan The now defunct Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly ratified a Transitional Constitution[25] shortly before independence on 7 July 2011.[26] The Constitution was signed by the President on Independence Day and thereby came into force. This is the supreme law of the land, superseding the Interim Constitution of 2005.[27] The constitution establishes a mixed presidential system of government headed by a President who is Head of State, Head of Government, and Commander- in-Chief of the armed forces. It also established the National Legislature comprising two Houses: a directly elected assembly, the National Legislative Assembly; and a second chamber of representatives of the States, the Council of States. John Garang, the founder of the SPLA/M was the first President of the autonomous government until his death on 30 July 2005. Salva Kiir Mayardit (surname Kiir),[8][28] his deputy, was sworn in as First Vice President of Sudan and President of the Government of Southern Sudan on 11 August 2005. Riek Machar (surname Machar)[8] replaced him as Vice President. Legislative power is vested in the government and the bicameral National Legislature. The Constitution also provides for an independent judiciary, the highest organ being the Supreme Court. [edit] Military Main article: Armed forces of South Sudan A Defense paper was initiated in 2007 by then Minister for SPLA Affairs Dominic Dim Deng, and a draft was produced in 2008. It declared that Southern Sudan would eventually maintain land, air, and riverine forces.[29][30] [edit] Developing state capacity The neutrality of this section is disputed.