South Sudan: brief information about the country. A new state appeared in the world - South Sudan

South Sudan is the youngest state on the planet to achieve independence as a result of a long civil war and the referendum that followed, in which the independence of Sudan's southern provinces was recognized by the international community and the central government. However, peace did not last long in the country, and two years after independence, civil war broke out.

Republic of South Sudan: gaining independence

The country has no access to the sea, and this significantly complicates communications with outside world, since neighboring states can hardly be considered ideal neighbors. In addition to Sudan itself, the republic borders on Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, Kenya and Uganda.

Between the provinces that later became South Sudan and the central government of Sudan, the conflict has existed for decades and was caused by attempts to forcibly Islamize and Arabize territories inhabited by various black peoples with their own cultural, religious and linguistic characteristics.

For a long time the country was occupied by Egypt and ruled as a colony, but after Sudan gained independence in 1956, the black population of the southern provinces had hope to defend their own identity. However, the central government did not support this trend, and a civil war broke out that lasted for several decades with few interruptions.

As a result of interethnic strife, more than two and a half million people died, and many survivors became refugees.

Capital of South Sudan

Juba is the largest and most economically developed city in the country. However, due to disagreements between the new government and the authorities of the province in which the city is located, the development of state infrastructure turned out to be impossible - the provincial authorities simply refused to provide land for the construction of government institutions.

It was then that it was decided to move the capital from Juba to Ramsel, but the civil war that began in 2013 prevented these plans.

Located on the banks of the White Nile, Juba occupies a very advantageous geographical position and functions as a river trading port. However, other infrastructure was badly damaged during the military conflicts that followed each other for almost five decades.

Most of the roads connecting Juba with other cities in the country were mined during the fighting and their clearance, which began in 2005, has not yet been completed. The Swiss Foundation for Mine Action manages the roads leading from the capital to Uganda and Kenya, as these are the roads that are heavily used by local residents to escape from the areas covered by the fighting, or to return to their homes when the fighting ends.

An important part of the transport infrastructure of any capital is the airport. When big oil money came to South Sudan, Juba set about building a new terminal with increased capacity. However, the sharp drop in oil prices and the outbreak of armed conflict hampered the development of the airport. Now the airfield is used mainly by UN staff and international non-governmental organizations engaged in charitable and peacekeeping activities in South Sudan. However, the airport still retains its position as the busiest in East Africa.

Ramsel: the failed capital

Two hundred kilometers north of the city of Juba is the city of Ramsel, in which it is planned to transfer the capital of the young state of South Sudan. Like the current capital, Ramsel is located on the western bank of the White Nile and has a large commercial port.

The region in which the potential capital is located is considered extremely fertile, and during the rainy season, which lasts from March to October, a variety of crops are grown in the Nile swamps.

However, there is no consensus among specialists about the suitability of these lands for large-scale construction. Some believe that a small rocky area among the swamps is enough space for the construction of a complex of government buildings.

The original plan was to build a large airport, create a free trade zone and build a warehouse complex to handle a large amount of cargo.

Geography and biodiversity

South Sudan is rich in natural attractions, which include the marshes of the Sudd region, the Boma National Park and the South National Park. The nature of the country is diverse and bizarre. Large herds of antelope, forest elephants, various types of primates, red river pigs and giant forest boars are the pride of the country.

The diversity of the landscape entails a great difference in climatic conditions in different regions. Here are deserts, and meadows, and grassy savannahs, as well as high-mountain plateaus and swampy floodplains.

Sudd Wetland

The swamps of the Sudd region are considered the largest flooded areas in East Africa. Ferns and reeds grow in vast wet expanses, serving as a haven for a large number migratory birds wintering and feeding here.

The rainy season has been here since early spring until autumn, but when it ends, a dry period can occur, during which steppe fires occur.

Swamp as an obstacle to ships

For many centuries, the swamps of the Sud region hindered the exploration of the Nile and the search for its sources. This is due not only to the fact that the depth does not allow large vessels to pass, but also to dense thickets of reeds and small shrubs, as well as various plant species with branched root systems.

South Sudan, together with Egypt, plans to build canals to drain the swamp of the Sudd region. This is expected to make wetlands suitable for habitation and agriculture.

However, environmental organizations began to sound the alarm, as such a significant project cannot but affect the fragile ecosystem of the region. In addition to huge populations of malaria-carrying mosquitoes, other rare species migratory birds. And the water regime can change in the most unpredictable way. Experts fear that the country of South Sudan will not be able to assess all the possible risks on its own, and suggest postponing such a grandiose project until the time when the civil war in the country is at least over.

South Sudan is a state in Africa with its capital in Juba (it is planned to move the capital to the central part of the country - to the city of Ramsel, which is being established in the Lake Province). Bordered by Ethiopia in the east, Kenya, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the south, the Central African Republic in the west and Sudan in the north, the total length of the borders is 6018 km. Area - 644 329 km². The sovereign status of South Sudan came into force on July 9, 2011, after the signing of a declaration declaring it an independent state. Member of the UN since July 14, 2011. Has no access to the sea.

Information

• date of independence: 9 July 2011 (from Sudan)
• Official language: English
• Capital: Juba
• The largest city: Juba
• Form of government: presidential republic
• Territory: 644,329 km²
• Population: 12 340 000 people
• Internet domain:.ss
• ISO code:SS
• IOC code: SSD
• Telephone code: +211
• Time Zones: +3

By the time of the colonization of Africa by European countries in South Sudan, there were no state entities in modern understanding. The Arabs have also failed to integrate this region over the centuries. Some progress occurred under the Ottoman rule of Egypt, when in 1820-1821 the regime of Muhammad Ali, dependent on the Porte, began an active colonization of the region.
During the existence of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan (1898-1955), Great Britain tried to limit Islamic and Arab influence on South Sudan by introducing a separate administration of the North and South of Sudan, respectively, and in 1922 even by issuing an Act on the introduction of visas for the Sudanese population for movement 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 its 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 government 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 granting of a certain internal self-government to the South.
After about a decade of calm, Jafar Nimeiri, who seized power in a military coup in 1969, resumed the policy of Islamization. Punishments such as stoning, public flogging and amputation of hands, prescribed by Islamic law, were introduced into the criminal legislation of the country, after which the armed conflict was resumed by the Sudan People's Liberation Army.
According to American estimates, in the two decades that have passed since the resumption of armed conflict in southern Sudan, government forces killed about 2 million civilians. As a result of periodic droughts, famine, lack of fuel, expanding armed confrontation, 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 deprived of the opportunity to cultivate the land or otherwise earn a living, suffer from malnutrition and malnutrition, and lack access to education and health care. Years of war has led to a humanitarian catastrophe.
Negotiations between the rebels and the government in 2003-2004 formally ended the 22-year second civil war, although sporadic armed clashes in a number of southern regions continued later. On January 9, 2005, the Naivasha Agreement was signed in Kenya, which granted 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 should
were, by agreement, divided equally between the central government and the leadership of the southern autonomy. This eased the tension somewhat. 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, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon visited South Sudan. The international community has brought peacekeeping and humanitarian forces into the conflict zone. During a 6-year period, the southern authorities organized a 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. According to all estimates, the ability and desire of the non-Arab region to live independently was not in doubt. In June 2010, the US announced that it would welcome the emergence of a new state in the event of a positive outcome of the referendum. 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 a referendum. In addition, he promised freedom of movement between the two countries, offered to help the southerners create a secure and stable state, and organize an equal union of two states like the European Union if the South gained independence. As a result of the positive outcome of the referendum, the new state was proclaimed on July 9, 2011...

Climate

The dry period in the region is very short and lasts only in the winter months (in the north it is longer, but still lasts a smaller part of the year). The annual rainfall ranges from 700 mm in the north to about 1400 mm in the southwest. The whole of South Sudan is covered with forests, which are divided into two parts. These are monsoon (tropical) forests - in the south, and equatorial - in the extreme south, that is, monsoon (95%) and equatorial (5%).

Population

The population of South Sudan is, according to various sources, from 7.5 to 13 million people. According to the 2008 Sudanese census, the population of the South was 8,260,490 people, but the authorities of South Sudan do not recognize these results, since the central bureau of statistics in Khartoum refused to provide them with raw data for the region for their own processing and evaluation.
The majority of the population of South Sudan belongs to the Negroid race and professes either Christianity or traditional African animistic religions. The main population group is made up 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 people in South Sudan speak a variety of Nilotic, Adamawa-Ubangi, Central Sudanese and other languages ​​and dialects, the largest of which is the Dinka language.

Religion

The majority of the population of South Sudan practice either Christianity or traditional African animistic religions.

Bandingilo National Park

Bandingilo National Park, sometimes spelled Badingilo, is located in the region of South Sudan, within the states of Central Equatoria and Eastern Equatoria. It was founded in 1992. Located in a wooded area near the White Nile River, it covers an area of ​​more than 10,000 square kilometers (3,900 sq mi). This is the second largest annual animal migration (the largest migration of the Serengeti), includes several species of antelope, including the wading goat, white-eared kob, and the reserve is also home to the iconic African megafauna like the giraffe. It also contains large swamps extending into Jonglei State. The park supports numerous bird populations. On July 6, 2011, three days before South Sudan formally withdrew from Sudan, the Administrative Head Office was officially opened in a ceremony led by Equatoria Central Governor Clement Wani and USAID Sudan Director William Hamminck...

Imatuna mountains

The Imatuna Mountains (also Immatun, or rarely Maton) are located in the state of Eastern Equatoria in southeastern South Sudan and extend into the Northern region of Uganda. Mount Kinyeti is the tallest mountain at 3,187 meters (10,456 feet) and the highest point of South Sudan. The range has an equatorial climate and dense montane forests supporting a variety of wildlife. Since the middle of the 20th century, the rich ecology has been increasingly degraded by forestry and subsistence farming, causing extensive slope erosion...

Radom National Park

Radoma National Park is a biosphere reserve in South Darfur, Sudan, Africa. Its area is 1,250,970 hectares (3,091,200 acres). The Adda and Amblashi rivers form the northern and southern boundaries of the park. Near Radom is the André Felix National Park of the Central African Republic. Established as a park, in 1979 it was a member of the World Biosphere Reserve Network. Rivers, streams and permanent pools cover much of the park, which is characterized as a wooded savanna. Approximately 90% of the habitat is thickets of low-growing (1-2 m) evergreen xerophytic shrubs, while the rest is forest. The average annual relative humidity is 57-65%; and the average annual temperature is 16-27 C. The largest villages in the park include: Radom, Mesheitir, Bireikat, Songo, al Khufra, Bimeza and many more...

Ez Zeraf Game Reserve

Ez Zeraf Game Reserve covers an area of ​​675,000 hectares (1,670,000 acres) and is located in northern South Sudan. It was established in 1939 when the area was within Sudan. Within the territory of the reserve is located in the Sudd swamp. Ez Zeraf is an IUCN Category VI site with a mostly seasonally flooded field and forest landscape. It is globally important for its large concentrations of mammals. The reserve is also home to the Hippo. A significant part of the reserve is located on the island of Zeraf, a seasonally flooded island region, isolated by the White Nile in the West and the Bahr el Zeraf River in the east...

South National Park

South National Park is located in South Sudan. It was formed in 1939. This place is 23,000 km². A.B. Anderson, a former Assistant Game Controller, reported that in 1950, the southern National Park was extended to an area of ​​7,800 square miles (20,000 square kilometers). It was drained by three rivers: the Jur River in the west, a well-defined channel that joined the Nile; the river Gela in the east; and the Ibba River in the center of the park. The Ibba and Gel rivers formed a floodplain that made the habitat swampy. Bushveld, true rainforest vegetation, has been found in the park. During the monsoon season, the park had a vast field that covered an area (4.6 m). The soil usually had whitish clay in its composition...

boma national park

Boma National Park is a protected area in eastern South Sudan near the Ethiopian border. It was formed in 1986 and covers an area of ​​22,800 square kilometers (8,800 sq mi) of fields and floodplains. The park is an important sanctuary for white-eared kobs, Corrygum and Mongalla's gazelle. Other large mammals are buffaloes, elephants, leopards, giraffes, zebras, oryxes, harbingers and cheetahs. It is also an important bird habitat: the avifauna includes the Rappell's Vulture (African Vulture) and the black-breasted Serpent's Eagle. The neighboring Gambela National Park in Ethiopia protects similar species. The most prominent species of Boma National Park is the white-eared kob (Kobus kob leucotis). A UNEP study reports that the white-eared cob is found mainly in the east of the Nile River in South Sudan in clay flats and wetlands ...

Source. wikipedia.org, hotelsbroker.com

The climate is hot, with seasonal precipitation decreasing from the mountainous regions in the south to the north. The terrain gradually rises from the plains in the north and in the center to the southern highlands on the border with Uganda and Kenya; White Nile flowing north from the highlands Central Africa, feeds with its waters a large swampy area in the center (more than 100,000 km2, which is 15% of the area) and determines the main geographical characteristics of the country, its flora and fauna, and the features of the development of agriculture.
The highest point is Mount Chineti (3187 m).

Natural resources:
oil, deposits of gold, diamonds, limestone, iron ore, copper, chrome ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver; timber, fertile agricultural land.

POPULATION

8 million 260 thousand 490 people (according to the controversial 2008 census; the actual number may reach 9 million 280 thousand people) (2008 estimate).
Age structure: young people under the age of 14 make up 44.4% of the population. Over 65 years old - 2.6% of the population (2008).

Child mortality: 102 deaths per 1000 live births (2006). The level of infectious diseases associated with the quality of water and food and contact with sick animals is very high: diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever, malaria, dengue fever, African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), schistosomiasis, respiratory diseases, meningococcal meningitis, rabies .

One of the most difficult in ethnicity states of the African continent and the planet - approx. 570 nations and ethnic groups: Azande, Atvot, Alur, Anyuak, Acholi, Baggara, Bari, Beja, Bongo, Danagle, Dinka, Lango, Lokoya, Luluba, Murle, Nuba, Pari, Fore, Hausa, Shilluk, etc.), etc.)

Religion - Christianity and local beliefs. The official language is supposed to be English, although the population uses Arabic and local dialects.

Urbanization:
The urban population is 22% (2009). Big cities: Juba (capital) - 250,000 thousand people. (2008).
Literacy: 27% of the total population aged 15 and over can read and write, 40% of this number are men, 16% are women.

STATE DEVELOPMENT.

Republic.
Executive and legislative power: Head of State - President Salva Kiir Mayardit (since July 9, 2011), Vice President Riek Machara (since July 10, 2011); The president is both head of state and head of government.

The Cabinet of Ministers is formed by the President and approved by the Legislative Assembly.

Bicameral National Parliament, consists of the National Legislative Assembly (170 seats) and the Council of States (48 seats), elections occur every four years.

South Sudan is divided into 10 states.
The upper house of parliament, the Council of States, resolves issues by a 2/3 majority of all its members. States have their own constitution, police, government and civil services, mass media; they themselves will regulate religious matters and questions of the use of land owned by the state and make their own budget. A number of issues of economic and social development, education and scientific research, agricultural development, housing construction, trade, industry, banks and insurance companies, water management, etc. are in the joint powers of the states and the state.

Political parties:
Sudanese People's Liberation Movement, National Congress Party, Sudanese People's Liberation Movement for Democratic Change.

ECONOMY

South Sudan has rich natural resources. The country produces almost three-quarters of the former Sudan's total oil production (nearly one and a half million barrels per day). 98% of all South Sudan's budget revenues come from oil production. Oil reserves are more than 3 billion barrels.
Industry and infrastructure in South Sudan, after several decades of civil war, is underdeveloped. Railways have a length of 236 km and are mostly in disrepair. There are only 60 km of paved roads in the country. Electricity is produced mainly by expensive diesel generators; flowing drinking water lacks.

Despite the fact that South Sudan has one of the richest agricultural areas in Africa (in the White Nile Valley, which has fertile soils and abundant water supplies), subsistence agriculture provides a minimum subsistence level for the vast majority of the population. Agriculture specializes in the cultivation of sorghum, corn, rice, millet, wheat, sugarcane, mango, papayas, bananas, sunflower sweet potatoes, cotton, sesame, cassava, beans, peanuts, and the production of gum arabic. Both cattle (about 20 million heads) and small cattle, mainly sheep, are bred.

South Sudan also has large herds of wildlife that could be used to attract ecotourists in the future. In addition, the waters of the White Nile have the potential to generate large amounts of hydroelectric power.

South Sudan is heavily dependent on imports of goods, services and capital from the north; Since 2005, more than $4 billion has been received by the region in foreign aid, mainly from the UK, the US, Norway and the Netherlands. The World Bank plans to support investments in infrastructure and agriculture in South Sudan. The government of South Sudan has set a target of 6% economic growth at the end of 2011 and expects 7.2% growth in 2012. Inflation was 8.6% in April 2011. High fuel prices drive up food prices.

The government's long-term goals include reducing poverty, maintaining macroeconomic stability, and improving tax collection and financial management.
Currency - South Sudanese pound.

STORY

History of South Sudan until 2011 see article SUDAN.

The declaration of independence by South Sudan was the result of a 21-year civil war that claimed the lives of, according to various estimates, from one to two million people. The ceasefire agreement, the so-called Comprehensive Peace Treaty, was signed by the warring parties (the authorities of the Republic of Sudan and the rebels from the south of the country) in 2005. According to this document, South Sudan received the status of an autonomy independent from the north, which was granted the right to a referendum on withdrawal from composition of the republic. The referendum itself took place only at the beginning of 2011. During the voting, more than 98% of the population of South Sudan supported the creation of an independent state.

The first of the countries to recognize the independence of South Sudan was the Republic of Sudan. As a result of the agreement, the borders of the two states were established in accordance with the borders as of January 1, 1956, that is, at the time of the start of the first civil war between north and south Sudan.

On July 9, 2011, on the basis of the Declaration of Independence of the Republic of South Sudan, the President of the new state, S. Kiir, by his decree, enacted an interim constitution as the Basic Law of the country for the transitional period. It will be valid for four years - until 2015.

During the transitional period, a parliament will operate, consisting of two chambers - the National Assembly (lower house) and the Council of States (upper house). The National Assembly will be composed of members of the already functioning Legislative Assembly of South Sudan and all South Sudanese citizens who have been members of the Sudanese Parliament. The Council of States will be composed of all citizens of South Sudan who have been representatives of the upper house in the Republic of the Sudan and 20 representatives appointed by the President.

During the transitional period, a Constitutional Commission was established to draft a permanent constitution. The President, who makes his amendments and comments, submits the text of the Basic Law to the Constitutional Conference for final approval. The conference is convened by the president and will be composed of representatives from political parties, civil society organizations, trade unions and other organizations and representative categories of citizens. The conference must approve the draft permanent constitution by a 2/3 majority of all delegates, after which the president of the country will put it into effect.
The constitution will establish a "decentralized system of government": national, state, and local.

The Basic Law establishes the mandatory participation of women in the work of state bodies at all levels, for which a quota of at least 25% of total number employees.
On July 15, 2011, the UN General Assembly accepted South Sudan into the ranks of the United Nations. South Sudan became the 193rd country in the world and the 54th state on the African continent.

According to experts, the new state will be among the poorest countries. Despite official recognition from Northern Sudan, the possibility of territorial conflicts between these countries is high, in particular over the disputed oil-bearing territories in the Abyei region, where bursts of violence are still noted.

In March and April 2012, armed clashes between Sudan and South Sudan took place on the territory of the city of Heglig.

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 current 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 long-term 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 - immigrants from the North. In January 2011, in the presence of many international observers, South Sudan held an independence referendum in a peaceful atmosphere, during which almost 99 per cent of valid ballots were cast in favor of the region's separation from Sudan. The population of South Sudan, according to various sources, ranges from 7.5 to 13 million people.

Commented on the historical significance of the emergence of the state of South Sudan, Morgan Roach, an employee of the Washington Heritage Analytical Foundation:

- In South Sudan, a civil war has been going on for several decades, splitting the country into two parts; two million people died during it. The independence of South Sudan is the culmination of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, promoting the self-determination of those who live in the territory. On the African continent, cases of actual internal division of a number of countries according to the North-South principle are not uncommon. 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?

“While the United States has historically had a tense 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 warring parties in Sudan at every stage of the South's preparations for secession. The continuity of the current administration of the White House in this process was initially felt weakly, but in the last year it has noticeably increased. Now comes a new stage of support related to the solution of a host of problems in South Sudan. This society is underdeveloped, practically without signs of statehood; the education system, health care, infrastructure are no good. The US government is committed to partnering with the government of South Sudan to help lift the country to a higher high level development.

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

“Many of these issues were supposed to be resolved by July 9th. But that did not happen. In particular, the question remains open as to who the Abyei border region should go to, in which a separate referendum was supposed to be held on this issue in January of this year, but did not pass. It was postponed indefinitely due to a dispute over the right to participate in it 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 establishment of a demilitarized zone in Abyei with the deployment of Ethiopian peacekeepers there is not a final solution to the problem. Another issue concerns citizenship. What to do with southerners living in the North, and vice versa? Neither side is willing to give 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 oil fields are located mainly in South Sudan, starting July 9, the North will be essentially cut off from them. However, the northerners control the pipelines through which Sudanese oil is exported. Each side has its own interests, so they will also have to agree on many issues related to the distribution of oil profits. Here I foresee the continuation of differences 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 for South Sudan?

- In South Sudan, the government is actually only taking its first steps, although its leader Salva Kiir has been president for almost six years. The Sudan People's Liberation Army, led by him, has yet to establish itself as a central government that they will respect and rely on. The governments in both Khartoum and Juba will have to write the constitutions of their state entities, as provided for in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. That is, the challenges are really serious. Much will now depend on the South Sudanese themselves - after all, they stubbornly sought this.

I think that in the state-building of South Sudan, the United States will play the role of adviser, 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 its first, most difficult stage. The United States has always supported South Sudan and will continue to do so in the future,” Morgan Roach said.

US Special Envoy to Sudan Princeton Liman called on the international community to support the governments of Sudan and South Sudan in solving their problems and laying the foundations for two viable peaceful neighbor states.

Story:

By the time of the colonization of Africa by European countries in South Sudan, there were no state entities in the modern sense. The Arabs have also failed to integrate this region over the centuries. Some progress occurred under the Ottoman rule of Egypt, when in 1820-1821. Muhammad Ali's regime, dependent on Porta, began an active colonization of the region.

During the existence of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan (1898-1955), Great Britain tried to limit Islamic and Arab influence on South Sudan by introducing a separate administration of the North and South of Sudan, respectively, and in 1922 even by issuing an Act on the introduction of visas for the Sudanese population for movement 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 its 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 government of the country.

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

After about a decade of calm, Jafar Nimeiri, who seized power in a military coup in 1969, resumed the policy of Islamization. Punishments such as stoning, public flogging and amputation of hands, prescribed by Islamic law, were introduced into the criminal legislation of the country, after which the armed conflict was resumed by the Sudan People's Liberation Army.

In the two decades that have passed since the resumption of armed conflict in southern Sudan, government forces have killed about 2 million civilians. As a result of periodic droughts, famine, lack of fuel, expanding armed confrontation, 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 deprived of the opportunity to cultivate the land or otherwise earn a living, suffer from malnutrition and malnutrition, and lack access to education and health care. Years of war has led to a humanitarian catastrophe.

Negotiations between the rebels and the government in 2003-2004 formally ended the 22-year second civil war, although sporadic armed clashes in a number of southern regions continued later. On January 9, 2005, the Naivasha Agreement was signed in Kenya, which granted 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, by agreement, to be divided equally between the central government and the leadership of the southern autonomy. This eased the tension somewhat. However, on July 30, 2005, Garang died in a helicopter crash, and the situation began to heat up again.

The international community has brought peacekeeping and humanitarian forces into the conflict zone. During a 6-year time 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. According to all estimates, the ability and desire of the non-Arab region to live independently was not in doubt. In June 2010, the US announced that it would welcome the emergence of a new state in the event of a positive outcome of the referendum. 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 a referendum. In addition, he promised freedom of movement between the two countries, offered to help the southerners create a secure and stable state, and organize an equal union of two states like the European Union if the South gained 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 9 July 2011. The Sudanese government welcomed the results of the referendum and announced that it plans to open an embassy in Juba after the state split into two parts, neighboring countries also welcomed the independence of the region. Egypt was one of the first countries to declare its intention to recognize South Sudan. The UK plans to open an embassy in South Sudan.

Administrative division

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

• Warab (31,027 km²)
• Upper Nile (77,773 km²)
• Eastern Equatoria (82,542 km²)
• Jongli (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 population of South Sudan is, according to various sources, from 7.5 to 13 million people. According to the 2008 Sudanese census, the population of the South was 8,260,490 people, but the authorities of South Sudan do not recognize these results, since the central bureau of statistics in Khartoum refused to provide them with raw data for the region for their own processing and evaluation.

The majority of the population of South Sudan belongs to the Negroid race and professes either Christianity or traditional African animistic religions. The main population group is made up of representatives of the Nilotic peoples, the most numerous of which are the Dinka, Nuer, Azande, Bari and Shilluk.

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

In the 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 the best alternative to the education that can be obtained in many public schools South Sudan.

For residents of South Sudan's fast-growing capital, Juba, special water carriers deliver unfiltered water directly from the Nile. Before the start 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, one might say, never existed in the city. To develop the necessary infrastructure, Juba will have to make a lot of efforts.

Many visitors to Juba might think that a gold rush has broken out in the city. The city is flooded with small traders and workers, attracted by the promise of peace and work. South Sudan's restive capital has tripled in size since 2005, but the authorities can't 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 dry period in the region lasts only 1 month. The annual rainfall ranges from 700 mm in the north to about 1400 mm in the southwest. The whole of South Sudan is covered with forests, which are divided into two parts. These are monsoon (tropical) forests - in the south, and equatorial - in the extreme south, that is, monsoon (25%), and equatorial (5%).

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 in here, and then they will not be released without local registration. For a hundred dollars, they put it right at the airport.

It's hot, at 9 am it's already 40 degrees: it's only 500 kilometers to the equator. 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 plumbing. Sewers too. The main source of water is the White Nile, a tributary of the Great Nile. Nile water is drunk without any purification. This is also where city sewers merge.

Improvised landfills. At every step - paper, 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 going on 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 respite.

And here is the sign: "Military zone. Do not bury 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. Here is buried John Garang - the founder of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, the first vice-president of the country. He died in a helicopter crash in 2005.

Colonel Gorang gathered the rebel army of the southerners from the 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 are aware of the need for their own effective state administration. We are even going to publish two versions of newspapers: for the south and for the north,” Nial Bol shares his immediate plans.

Nial Bol, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper, comes to his "office" every day at eight in order to have time to hold a planning meeting. From twelve to four in the afternoon you can forget about work - the heat is merciless. Air conditioners in Juba are rare, they are only available in ministries.

Uluf Maimau is one of the few who agree to be photographed. She sells flour in the city market. The half-day income is 4 pounds, almost 2 dollars. For this, in a roadside cafe you can buy a cup of coffee or a couple of bottles of mineral water.

"Once on four pounds a day, I could only dream of!" - the market trader is recognized.

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

“It was very difficult,” Uluf Maimau recalls during the war. “Today, although we are not in poverty, we live very modestly.”

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

Hey, how are you?

Okay, just started trading.

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

Grain, vegetables - from Juba, basins - from Uganda. Used cell phones, beer, whiskey - you can buy everything here: from Made in Nigeria underwear to logs. Shields woven from reeds are taken by whole machines. These are sections for the fence, so here each family encloses its site.

Next to the market is a car wash. Operates from sunrise to sunset. Washers are mostly children. They charge three dollars for a car. The brigadier collects the proceeds. The water is straight from the White Nile. In it, the washers wash off the dirt after a working day.

City life is concentrated along five kilometers of paved road. Here and trade, and cafes, and car repair shops.

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

Very poor country, which has gained its independence and, hopefully, the world, which still has so much to do.

On the world map Map

Let's visit the quarry.

Let's visit a rock quarry.

Quarries are usually located in places where there are good, suitable, large stones.

Quarries are usually located in locations where there are nice, big, suitable rocks.

First you need to build a fire under a block. This will make the stone more brittle. Old tires are suitable as firewood.

First, a bonfire must be made under the boulder. This makes the rock more brittle. Old tires will do just fine as firewood.

Then a wedge is inserted into the stone, which is beaten with a sledgehammer.

Then a wedge is driven into the rock using a sledgehammer.

The broken pieces are dragged down to the road. The line of workers is not interrupted.

The chunks that break loose are carried down to the road by an uninterrupted chain of workers.

They dragged it, piled it in a heap, went for a new portion.

They bring the rocks down, dump them in a heap, and head back for a new portion.

Stones of different calibers are needed for different purposes. Some - for the construction of fences, others - for houses, others - for roads. Stones are sorted by size.

Different calibers of rock are utilized for different purposes. One for building fences, another for houses, a third for roads. The rocks are sorted according to size.

Large pieces are carried by men.

Men carry the larger chunks.

Medium-sized stones are a woman's business.

Medium-sized rocks are a woman's job.

And the children simple job give - to turn small stones into rubble.

And children are given the easiest task—turning small stones into gravel.

We invite buyers!

Juba

Juba

On the world map Map

The state of South Sudan appeared on the political map of the world only in 2011. On the main square of the capital there is already a monument to the founding father with a whip in his hand.

The state of South Sudan only appeared on the political map of the world in 2011. The capital’s main square already has a monument to the nation’s founding father, holding a whip in his hand.

Flowering gardens and beautiful buildings have so far only been painted on advertising posters.

Blossoming gardens and beautiful buildings only exist on advertising posters thus far.

There are only 30 kilometers of paved roads in the whole country.

The entire country has only 30 kilometers of paved road.

There are no dumps in the country. Why do we need garbage dumps if the garbage fits comfortably under our feet?

There are no garbage dumps in the country. Who needs dumps when it's so nice to feel garbage crunching underfoot?

Waste has an amazing ability to self-organize into piles.

Discarded waste exhibits a miraculous ability to organize itself into piles.

Rare urns are not popular.

The few rare trash cans that exist don't enjoy much popularity.

Since water is sold here in bottles (and not in plastic bags), bottles are mostly lying around on the street. Cars perfectly roll them to a flat state.

Because water is sold in bottles here (and not in plastic bags), the streets are mainly littered with bottles. Passing cars reduce them to a perfectly flat state.

Opposite the presidential residence.

Across the street from the presidential residence.

Did an electric pole fall? Great! Something to dry clothes on.

A fallen utility pole? Perfect! Now there's something to hang laundry on.

Juba street.

Car number.

A license plate.

Roundabout ahead.

Round about ahead.

Freight traffic is closed.

No trucks allowed.

The students are crossing the road.

student crossing.

Mom with a child.

A mother and child.

Taxi drivers on motorcycles are waiting for customers at intersections. No helmets, of course.

Motorcycle taxis wait for customers on street corners. There are no helmets to speak of naturally.

The country is full of other problems, in addition to excessive concern for security. Stepping over a meter-long ditch between a bus stop and a bus? Don't fall apart.

The country has too many other problems to be overly concerned with safety. Stepping over a meter-wide irrigation ditch between the bus stop and the bus won't kill you.

There is no running water, so water is transported in tanks around the city.

There's no water supply system, so tank trucks deliver water to various points around the city.

And from there, everyone carries their water home in the traditional African yellow canisters, either on their heads or on wheelbarrows.

Street signs.

South Sudanese are no strangers to elegance.

The South Sudanese are no strangers to niceties.

The market sells special coasters for coals, on which everyone cooks food.

Special stands for hot coals, on which everyone cooks their food, are sold at the market.

Sale of wood for fences.

Wood for fences for sale.

The heavy door from the safe lying on the sidewalk symbolizes the presence of money changers nearby. There used to be a bank here.

A soldier trains a monkey.

A soldier training a monkey.

In some bookstore miraculously found postcards. I went to the post office for stamps, although all the locals insisted that the post office did not exist or that it did not work. Exists and works. For a long time I explained what postcards and where I want to send, discussed the cost of shipping for a long time. Finally, they sold a set of stamps. I joyfully stuck them on postcards, signed them and hand them to the clerk.
- Letters cannot be sent from the post office. Go to Dh-al.
Why did you sell me different brands?
- It's beautiful!

By sheer miracle, I was able to find some postcards at a bookshop. I then went to the post office for stamps, despite the locals’ unanimous assurances that there was no post office or that it was closed. There is one and it was open. I spent a long time explaining what postcards I wanted to mail and where, followed by a lengthy discussion about the postage price. At last, I was sold a set of stamps. Jubilant, I stuck them onto my postcards, filled in the text, and handed the postcards to the clerk.
“You can't send mail from the post office—go to DHL.”
“Why did you sell me all these stamps, then?”
“But they look pretty!”