South Sudan, a country that emerged onto the world stage in 2011, is located in East-Central Africa. Understanding Where Is South Sudan geographically is crucial to grasping its complex history and ongoing challenges. Landlocked and bordered by Sudan to the north, Ethiopia to the east, Kenya, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the south, and the Central African Republic to the west, South Sudan’s location has profoundly shaped its development and conflicts.
The journey to independence for South Sudan is deeply rooted in the history of Sudan itself. The seeds of separation were sown in 1952 when the Egyptian revolution spurred movements towards Sudanese independence. Egypt and Britain, then co-governing Sudan, allowed both the northern and southern regions to participate in the independence vote.
In 1956, Sudan achieved independence, but the southern states quickly became disillusioned due to their perceived lack of autonomy within the unified nation. This dissatisfaction ignited the First Sudanese Civil War (1955-1972), a conflict fueled by southern demands for greater regional autonomy. An estimated 500,000 lives were lost in this protracted struggle.
A peace agreement was signed in 1972, offering a fragile respite. However, deep-seated tensions remained unresolved. Meanwhile, in 1969, Colonel Gaafar Nimeiry seized power in a coup, dissolving parliament and political parties, further altering the political landscape.
A pivotal moment arrived in 1983 when Nimeiry introduced Sharia Islamic law across Sudan. This decision reignited north-south tensions and directly contributed to the outbreak of the Second Sudanese Civil War (1983-2005). This conflict, largely a continuation of the first, pitted the central Sudanese government against the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA). The consequences were devastating, with an estimated two million people perishing due to war, famine, and disease, and over four million displaced.
After more than two decades of brutal guerrilla warfare, 2011 marked a turning point as South Sudan finally achieved independence. This followed a referendum in which the people of South Sudan overwhelmingly voted for secession.
However, the newly formed nation faced immediate challenges. In 2012, disputes with Sudan over the oil-rich Abyei region escalated into armed conflict known as the Heglig Crisis. A subsequent peace deal established a 10km demilitarized zone along the border and allowed South Sudan to resume its vital oil exports, critical for its fledgling economy.
Tragically, South Sudan’s hard-won independence was soon marred by internal conflict. In 2013, civil war erupted when President Salva Kiir sacked his cabinet and accused Vice-President Riek Machar of plotting a coup. This internal power struggle plunged the nation into further chaos, displacing over 2.2 million people and triggering severe famine, endangering countless lives.
A renewed effort to end the devastating civil war in 2018 led to a power-sharing agreement between the warring factions, offering a glimmer of hope for lasting peace and stability in this young nation. Understanding “where is South Sudan” is not just about its geographical coordinates, but also about comprehending its arduous journey through conflict and its ongoing quest for stability and development in the heart of Africa.
