South Sudan

 

Quick Facts

• Continental region – North Africa
• Currency symbol of South Sudan-South Sudanese pound(SS£)
• Capital City –Juba
• Official languages – English; Swahili
• Population – 10.98 million (2018)
• Country dialling code  –  (+211 )
• Official website – South Sudan
• Top 3 biggest industries  –Petroleum industry, Iron Industry, and copper industry.
• Google Maps link –South Sudan
• Where is it? –South Sudan, officially known as the Republic of South Sudan, is a landlocked country in East-Central Africa. It is bordered by Sudan, Ethiopia, Congo, Uganda, Central African Republic.

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South Sudan In Pictures

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South Sudan History

• How did the country get its current name? –  A committee of leaders chose the name South Sudan for the newly born country.
• When and by whom the country was first discovered? – Originally part of Sudan.   
• Who were the first Inhabitants? – First Inhabitants the area included the Anyuak, Dkina and Nuer people sometime before the 10th century. 
• When it was first recognized as a country? – The Republic of South Sudan became an independent state 9 July 2011.
• Who was the first leader of the country? – Salva Kiir Mayardit became the first president of Africa’s newest country – South Sudan.

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Five Significant Events 

1. 2011 World’s newest country: On July 9, 2011, South Sudan formally declares independence from Sudan following six years of autonomy and 20 years of war. (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/2/22/timeline-south-sudan-since-independence)
2. 2012 Oil clashes:  The two countries clash for nearly two months starting March 2012 over rights to the oilfields around Heglig, a town just inside Sudan. (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/2/22/timeline-south-sudan-since-independence)
3. 2013 Civil war:  On July 23, 2013, Kiir fires Machar as well as all government ministers, their deputies and several police brigadiers. (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/2/22/timeline-south-sudan-since-independence)
4. 2016  Machar back, briefly:  Machar and Kiir sign a peace accord in August 2015 that provides for Machar’s reappointment as vice president. (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/2/22/timeline-south-sudan-since-independence)
5. 2018 Unity delays: On June 20, 2018, Kiir and Machar meet for the first time in two years. On September 12, they sign a new peace agreement to end five years of war that killed more than 380,000 and forced roughly four million people from their homes. (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/2/22/timeline-south-sudan-since-independence)

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Five Places to Visit in South Sudan

1. Boma National Park: Environmentalists and naturalists have been arguing for years over weather Boma National Park is the home of the largest or the second-largest annual land mammal migration on the planet. (https://www.thecrazytourist.com/15-best-places-visit-south-sudan/5/)
2. Wau: It’s precisely because of Wau’s place at the confluence of several of South Sudan’s most populous tribal groups that this city is now embroiled in some of the bloodiest episodes of the current conflict engulfing the country. (https://www.thecrazytourist.com/15-best-places-visit-south-sudan/5/)
3. Southern National Park:  Covering close to 7,800 square kilometers of land in the very heart of South Sudan, the seemingly endless swathes of patchwork woodlands and grassy savannah that form the Southern National Park are amongst the largest protected game areas in the nation. (https://www.thecrazytourist.com/15-best-places-visit-south-sudan/5/)
4. Kidepo Game Reserve:  The Kidepo Game Reserve is located in the southernmost depths of South Sudan.Contiguous with the famous Kidepo National Park in Uganda across the border, it’s a sea of greenery that extends for more than 1,200 square kilometers across the savannah grasslands and gallery woods of the region. (https://www.thecrazytourist.com/15-best-places-visit-south-sudan/5/)
5. Bandingilo National Park: Another great place to come and witness the breathtaking phenomenon of the annual migration of the white-eared kob, Bandingilo National Park is the natural jewel of the Equatoria region. (https://www.thecrazytourist.com/15-best-places-visit-south-sudan/5/)

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References: 

• https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/2/22/timeline-south-sudan-since-independence
• https://www.thecrazytourist.com/15-best-places-visit-south-sudan/5/