South Sudan Basic Information

By | July 21, 2022

Basic information about the territory

South Sudan Basic Information

Subchapters:

  • System of governance and political tendencies in the country
  • Foreign policy of the country
  • Population

The system of governance and political tendencies in the country

Official name of the country: Republic of South Sudan

President: Salva Kiir Mayardit (SPLM party)

Political tendencies: After many delays and an endless series of political intrigues, intrigues and dramas of the South Sudanese military-political elite, the country has finally established a transitional government according to the Revitalized Peace Agreement (R-ARCSS, Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan) of 12. September 2018, featuring Salva Kiir as President of South Sudan and Riek Machar as First Vice President. The main reasons for the delay were clear – the unpreparedness and reluctance of some opposition political parties to lay down their arms, disagreements about the federal arrangement, delays in the establishment of a unified South Sudanese army and its command, and an acute lack of funds necessary to implement the tasks of the pre-transition period. However, development in the country is not moving in the right direction even after the establishment of a transitional government. The absence of nationwide bloody clashes and the relative maintenance of a truce between the two main feuding parties to the conflict is a positive development, but the impoverished country is still at risk of famine – during 2020 and 2021, the flooded Nile caused devastating floods, traditional wars are taking place between individual ethnic groups over cattle, and most of the central territory the government will not achieve anything. The governance system remains very fragile. There is no agreement on the form of dispute resolution and even the implementation of policies at lower levels. But the biggest problem is above all the minimal progress in the integration of the armies of Salva Kiir and Riek Machar into a unified national army. Check cancermatters to learn more about South Sudan political system.

Composition of the government:

Vice President: Riek Machar

Vice President: James Wani Igga

Ministry of Cabinet Affairs: Martin Elia Lomuro

Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports: Nadia Arop Dudi

Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs: Angelina Teny

Ministry of Agriculture: Josephine Joseph Lagu

Ministry of Power and Dams: Peter Mercallo Nasir

Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning: Athian Diing Athian

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation: Beatrice Kamisa Wani

Ministry of Gender Policy, Social Affairs and Religious Affairs: Ayaa Benjamin Warille

Ministry of General Education: Awur Deng Achuil

Ministry of Health: Elizabeth Acuei Yor

Ministry of Interior: Paul Mayom Akec

Ministry of Labour, Community Services and Human Resource Development: James Hoth Mai

Ministry of Lands, Housing and Planning: Michael Chaniek Geay

Ministry of National Security: Obote Mamur Mete

Ministry of Petroleum: Puok Kang Chuol

Foreign policy of the country

South Sudan’s international relations are focused on securing humanitarian aid to effectively deal with the global pandemic and the aftermath of devastating floods, and on gaining support for a domestic political power-sharing agreement. However, the international community’s concerns about the security situation and skepticism about the peace agreement continue to be reflected, for example, by the decision of the UN Security Council, on the basis of which the arms embargo on the country and sanctions against individuals were extended. It is expected that the international relations of the Republic of South Sudan could improve in the event of parliamentary and presidential elections. Check prozipcodes for South Sudan defense and foreign policy.

Population

Population – World Population Review estimate for April 2022: 11,573,593

Average age: 17.3 years

Age structure 0-14 years: 41.58%, 15-24 years: 21.28%, 25-54 years: 30.67%, 55-64 years: 3.93%, 65 years and over: 2.53 %

Average annual increase (World Population Review estimate for April 2022): 1.26%

Demographic composition (2018, SB estimate): 49.9% women, 51.1% men

National composition: the population is made up of many ethnic groups, the main ones include: Dinka 35.8%, Nuer 15.6%, also Shilluk, Azande, Bari, Kakwa, Kuku, Murle, Mandari, Didinga, Ndogo, Bviri, Lndi, Anuak, Bongo, Lango, Dungotona, Acholi

Religious composition: Christians (60%), animist religions (33%), Islam (7%)