South Sudan's capital is Juba. Full description. History of the development of the state

South Sudan is a young state in the very center of the African continent. Previously, these lands were called Kush, then Nubia. For a long time these territories were part of Sudan, and only in 2011 they were declared independent.

In the east, the country borders Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya. The country shares its southern borders with Democratic Republic Congo, northern - with Sudan. To the west, South Sudan borders the Central African Republic. The country has no access to the sea.

On this moment the capital is the city Juba, however, the government plans to move it to the city Ramsel.

The country is divided into several historical regions: Upper Nile, Bahr el Ghazal And Equatoria.

Climate and weather

The climate in South Sudan is subequatorial. It's quite humid here. The thermometer rises to +35...+38 °C and fluctuates slightly throughout the year. Only during drought periods does the temperature drop noticeably at night.

During the year, up to 700 mm of precipitation falls in the north of the country, and in the southwest - up to 1400 mm. The dry period lasts from November to March. In the south of the country there is another dry season in June-July.

The best time to travel to South Sudan is from late July to October.

Nature

Part of the country's territory is within the region swamps Sudd. This marshy area was formed by tributaries White Nile which locals call Bahr el Abyal. The river crosses the country from the south and has many tributaries.

The territory of South Sudan is located at an altitude of 200-400 meters above sea level. There are also small mountains in the southwest of the country, and in the southeast there are mountains of the system Great African Rift.

Almost throughout the entire country there are forests, which are clearly divided into two types. In the north there is a series of swamps and lowlands, overgrown with floodplain tropical forests, which turn into dry savannas and flooded meadows. In the south of the country there are dense equatorial forests (in the floodplains) and East African dry forests (in the foothills).

In the east, closer to the Ethiopian Highlands, grassy steppes and semi-desert zones begin.

As for the fauna, it is home to various species of antelope, elephants, lions, giraffes, hyenas, crocodiles and buffaloes - and this is far from full list. There are 12 reserves and 6 national reserves organized in the country.

Attractions

The main attraction of South Sudan is its nature. Here are the areas with the second largest animal migration in the world.

Unique places are the national Boma Park And South National Park near the border with Congo. It is home to large populations of kongoni, kob antelope, buffalo, topi, giraffe, elephant and lion.

The entire country is covered with forests, which can be divided into two types: tropical monsoon and equatorial. The river valleys are overgrown with gallery forests, which are quite sparse. In such forests you can find mahogany, teak, and rubber vines.

The Ethiopian Highlands and the Central African Plateau are covered with mountain forests and shrubs.

Nutrition

The national cuisine of South Sudan has not yet been properly formed, since the state was formed quite recently. However, it is already possible to note some regularities in cooking and dishes beloved by local residents.

The traditions of French, English and Italian cuisine are mixed here. There are also Egyptian notes in the taste of local dishes.

The basis of national dishes is beans, beans, eggplants, peppers, as well as sauces, herbs, hot spices, garlic and onions.

The meat usually prepared here is lamb and chicken. Rice or various vegetables that are steamed, fried or canned are most often served as a side dish.

Try the dish ful. These are beans and legumes that are cooked with meat, vegetables and lots of seasonings. It will be interesting to try sorghum pilaf. Quite popular are kebab, kalavi and traditional sweater.

Desserts here are usually prepared by hand. They are usually very sweet and have a lot of cream.

In South Sudan they drink a wide variety of teas and coffee, but alcohol is prohibited.

Accommodation

There are not many hotels in South Sudan. All of them are concentrated in Jube and in several other large cities. By African standards, the hotels are very good: the rooms have hot water, TV, air conditioning and a refrigerator. For such a double room you will have to pay about $100. The same single room will cost you $75 per night.

Breakfast is not included in the price. You will not find any additional features (like a spa or a casino) at the hotel.

It is almost impossible to rent housing here, and few people would agree to the conditions in which the locals live: dilapidated houses with thatched roofs, lack of running water and sewerage...

Entertainment and relaxation

There are probably only a few things to do for tourists in South Sudan. One of them is safari. Local authorities assign big hopes that safaris and local national parks will attract tourists to the country.

For a safari, you need to obtain a permit - then you will even be given assistance when visiting the parks: they will provide security and show you the best places.

Another view active rest- This is walking. True, there are no particularly picturesque places here, but there is more than enough exoticism!

Also in the capital of South Sudan you can visit cafes and restaurants. In small towns there are none, but in Jube you will find very colorful places, although only in the city center.

Purchases

You always want to take with you a piece of the country you visited as a souvenir. To make South Sudan memorable for a long time, you can bring African jewelry as souvenirs. A variety of products from local craftsmen also deserve attention.

Particularly worth highlighting are the masks of African tribes, sculptures, wooden figurines and totems that tourists bring from South Sudan as souvenirs. African tribes are famous for their skillful products made from natural materials. Such things have a certain magical or religious meaning for them.

Handmade figurines of zebras, giraffes, elephants and rhinoceroses made from noble wood will be a good purchase. You may also find the works of local artists interesting.

If you want to add African flavor to your home, bring wooden dishes and ceramic vases with African patterns from your trip. Woolen carpets, which are woven by local women from richly colored threads, are also suitable for this.

A magnificent and expensive gift from South Sudan will be figurines of animals and birds made of precious metals and stones. Products made from crocodile and snake skin are also held in high esteem.

People often buy national clothes, bright African dresses or safari suits as souvenirs.

In the markets of South Sudan you can also buy original products made from palm bast and reed, and elephant grass.

Transport

Transport in South Sudan is poorly developed. Although there are 23 airports in the country, only 2 of them are paved.

The roads here are in very poor condition, many of them are in disrepair. There are practically no paved roads.

The situation with the railways is no better. Their length is 236 kilometers, and they are also in disrepair. There are plans to develop the network, but now the country simply does not have the funds.

Public transport is only available in and between major cities. These are usually very old buses or trains. Travel there is inexpensive.

You can use the services local residents who will take you to the right place for a reasonable fee.

Connection

Mobile communications here comply with the GSM 900 standard. Roaming is provided by 2 Russian operators cellular communication- Beeline and Megafon. Reception throughout the country is unstable.

There are also two local operators in South Sudan: Mobitel and Sudatel. Their tariffs are based on prepayment; at all post offices you can buy special cards to pay for communications.

Banks and post offices have pay phones, cards for which can be purchased there. Local calls are very cheap, but international calls will cost you much more.

All major cities have internet cafes. You can also make video calls from them. Headphones and microphone rental are paid separately.

There is Internet in hotels, cafes and restaurants.

Safety

The criminal situation in South Sudan is quite tense. There are often complaints of extortion even from the police.

Another danger that may await a traveler in Sudan is infection. You need to be very picky about what you eat, eat only processed foods, drink only bottled or boiled water!

Before traveling, you must be vaccinated against malaria, cholera, tetanus, typhoid and meningitis

Business climate

The country has only recently gained independence, so legislation in the field of entrepreneurship has not been fully formed. Corruption is rampant here, so it is incredibly difficult to resolve any issues regarding any documentation legally.

The country's economy is extremely unstable, so investing in it will be very risky.

A lot of oil is produced here, but this has little effect on the country's economy. The region is also rich in other Natural resources, such as gold, silver, copper, iron ore, zinc. Investments in the development of their deposits have some prospects.

Real estate

South Sudan's real estate market is hardly a source of interest. There are no conditions for investment here, and for personal purposes such housing can hardly be called attractive. There is no running water or sewerage here. Electricity is only available in the central areas of Juba and is available only to rich people.

The houses themselves here present a rather pitiful sight: made of clay, with thatched roofs, without windows... In a word, one can only dream of comfort here.

Traveling around South Sudan is not safe, so be sure to take care of medical insurance.

It is also better to make copies of the documents you take with you.

On your trip, pack a good first aid kit, and take hygiene products with an antiseptic effect. In the first aid kit you should take medications for gastrointestinal disorders and antimalarial drugs.

To get into national parks, you need to apply for and pay for special permits, but you will not be allowed to film there. For excursions to parks and reserves, it is better to choose comfortable shoes.

The climate is hot, with seasonal precipitation, the amount of which decreases from the mountainous regions in the south to the north. The terrain gradually rises from plains in the north and center to the southern highlands on the border with Uganda and Kenya; The White Nile, flowing north from the highlands of Central Africa, feeds with its waters a large swampy area in the center (more than 100,000 km2, accounting for 15% of the area) and determines the main geographical characteristics of the country, its flora and fauna and the features of agricultural development.
The most high point– Mount Kinyeti (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 population census; the actual number may reach 9 million 280 thousand people) (2008 estimate).
Age structure: youth under the age of 14 make up 44.4% of the population. Over 65 years old – 2.6% of the population (2008).

Infant mortality: 102 deaths per 1000 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 ethnically complex states on the African continent and planet - approx. 570 peoples and ethnic groups: Azande, Atwot, Alur, Anyuak, Acholi, Baggara, Bari, Beja, Bongo, Danagla, Dinka, Lango, Lokoya, Luluba, Murle, Nuba, Pari, For, Hausa, Shilluk, etc.) and etc.

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

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

STATE STRUCTURE.

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

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

The 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, decides issues by a majority of 2/3 of all its members. States have their own constitution, police, government and civil services, media; they themselves will regulate religious issues and issues of use of land owned by the state and adopt 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, management water resources etc. are under 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 total oil production for the former Sudan (almost one and a half million barrels per day). 98% of all budget revenues in South Sudan come from oil production. Oil reserves amount to more than 3 billion barrels.
Industry and infrastructure in South Sudan are underdeveloped after decades of civil war. The 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 primarily by expensive diesel generators; There is not enough running drinking water.

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 large reserves water), 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, sugar cane, mangoes, papaya, bananas, sweet potatoes, sunflowers, 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 maintains large herds of wild animals, which could be used in the future to attract ecotourists. In addition, the waters of the White Nile have the potential to create large quantity hydroelectricity.

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

The government's long-term objectives include reducing poverty, maintaining macroeconomic stability, improving tax collection and financial management.
The currency is the 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, which claimed lives according to different estimates, from one to two million people. A ceasefire agreement, the so-called Comprehensive Peace Treaty, was signed by the warring parties (the authorities of the Republic of Sudan and rebels from the south of the country) in 2005. According to this document, South Sudan received the status of autonomy independent from the north, which was granted the right to a referendum on secession 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 country 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 beginning of the first civil war between the north and south of Sudan.

On July 9, 2011, based on 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 transition period, there will be a parliament consisting of two houses - the National Assembly (lower house) and the Council of States (upper house). The National Assembly will consist of members of the already functioning Legislative Assembly of South Sudan and all South Sudanese citizens who were members of the Sudanese Parliament. The Council of States will consist of all South Sudanese citizens who have been representatives of the upper house in the Republic of Sudan and 20 representatives appointed by the President.

During the transition period, a Constitutional Commission was created 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 will be convened by the President and will consist 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 country's president will put it into effect.
The Constitution will enshrine a “decentralized system of government”: national, state and local levels.

The Basic Law establishes the mandatory participation of women in work government agencies all levels, for which a quota of no less than 25% of the total number of employees is now provided.
On July 15, 2011, the UN General Assembly admitted South Sudan to the United Nations. South Sudan became the 193rd country in the world and the 54th state on the African continent.

As experts note, the new state will be among the poorest countries. Despite official recognition from North Sudan, there is a high possibility of territorial conflicts between these countries, in particular over the disputed oil-bearing territories in the Abyei region, where outbursts of violence are still observed.

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

South Sudan(English) South Sudan), official name Republic of South Sudan(English) Republic of South Sudan listen)) is a state in Africa with its capital in Juba. It is planned to move the capital from Juba to the city of Ramsel. It borders Ethiopia to the east, Kenya, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the south, the Central African Republic to the west and Sudan to the north. Area - 619,745 km². South Sudan's sovereign status came into effect on July 9, 2011, following the signing of a declaration declaring it an independent state. Member of the UN since July 14, 2011. It has no access to the sea.

Story

At the time of the colonization of Africa by European countries, there were no state entities in South Sudan in the modern sense. Over the course of centuries of history, the Arabs also failed to integrate this region. Some progress occurred under Ottoman rule of Egypt, when in 1820-1821. The regime of Muhammad Ali, dependent on the Porte, began active colonization of the region.

During the period of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan (1898-1955), Great Britain tried to limit Islamic and Arab influence on South Sudan, introducing separate administration of the North and South of Sudan, respectively, and in 1922 even passing an Act introducing visas for the Sudanese population to travel 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 the 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 governance 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 provision of some internal self-government to the South.

After about a ten-year lull, Jafar Nimeiri, who seized power as a result of a military coup in 1969, resumed the policy of Islamization. The types of punishments provided for by Islamic law, such as stoning, public flogging and cutting off hands, were introduced into the country's criminal legislation, after which the armed conflict was resumed by the Sudan People's Liberation Army.

According to American estimates, in the two decades since the resumption of armed conflict in southern Sudan, government forces have killed about 2 million civilians. As a result of periodic droughts, famine, fuel shortages, expanding armed confrontation, and human rights violations, more than 4 million southerners were forced to leave their homes and flee to cities or neighboring countries- Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and the Central African Republic, as well as Egypt and Israel. Refugees are unable to farm land or otherwise earn a living, suffer from malnutrition and poor nutrition, and lack access to education and health care. The long-term war led to a humanitarian catastrophe.

Negotiations between the rebels and the government in 2003-2004 formally ended the 22-year second civil war, although isolated armed clashes continued southern regions took place later. On January 9, 2005, the Naivasha Agreement was signed in Kenya, granting 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, according to the agreement, to be divided equally between the central government and the leadership of the southern autonomy. This somewhat relieved the tense situation. However, on July 30, 2005, Garang died in a helicopter crash, and the situation began to heat up again. To resolve the conflict, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon visited South Sudan in September 2007. The international community brought peacekeeping and humanitarian forces into the conflict zone. During the 6-year temporary 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. By all accounts, the ability and desire of the non-Arab region to live independently was not in doubt. In June 2010, the United States announced that it would welcome the emergence of a new state if the referendum was successful. 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 the referendum. In addition, he promised freedom of movement between the two countries, offered to help southerners create a safe and stable state, and also organize an equal union of two states like the European Union if the South gains independence. As a result of the positive outcome of the referendum, the new state was proclaimed on July 9, 2011. Even before this, in June 2011, a border conflict began in Southern Kordofan.

Population

The population of South Sudan, according to various sources, ranges from 7.5 to 13 million people. According to the results of the 2008 Sudanese census, the population of the South was 8,260,490 people, but the South Sudanese authorities do not recognize these results because the central bureau of statistics in Khartoum refused to provide them with raw data on the region for their own processing and assessment.

The majority of South Sudan's population is black and follows either Christianity or traditional African animist religions. The main group of the population consists 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 South Sudanese speak a variety of Nilotic, Adamawa-Ubangi, Central Sudanese and other languages ​​and dialects, the largest of which is Dinka.

Religion

Religion in South Sudan- a set of religious beliefs inherent in the peoples of South Sudan.

The majority of the population of South Sudan professes either Christianity or traditional African animist religions, which to a certain extent led to a clash with the Muslim North.

In the southern part of the country both pagan and Christian influences predominate, reflected in life local population, although Islam is also practiced by a small number of the population.

In addition to Catholic communities, the country has Anglican parishes and structures of various charismatic Christian denominations.

The number of Catholics in South Sudan is about 1 million 700 thousand people (about 22% of the total population). Most adherents of Catholicism live in the southern states of Eastern Equatoria, Central Equatoria and Western Equatoria, where Catholics form a significant majority. The smallest number of Catholics live in Upper Nile state (45,000 people out of a total population of 2 million 750 thousand people).

Healthcare

South Sudan's health care system is poorly developed, which, coupled with the country's overall low literacy rate as well as poor infrastructure, seriously hampers disease control.

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.

South Sudan has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in the world. However, precise data for the country is not available. According to the reports of the special session of the UN General Assembly for 2008, 3.1% of the country's adults are HIV-infected. This number is almost twice as high as in neighboring Sudan.

South Sudan is home to a number of rare diseases not found anywhere else outside the region. For example, in the southern part of the country there is a rare disease of unknown origin called nodule syndrome. It is distributed over a relatively small area and mainly affects children from 5 to 15 years old. As of 2011, the number of cases is several thousand. Neither the cause of the disease nor its treatment are known.

Climate

The dry period in the region is very short and lasts only during the winter months (in the north it is longer, but still lasts less of the year). Annual precipitation ranges from 700 mm in the north to about 1400 mm in the southwest. All of South Sudan is covered with forests, which are divided into two parts. These are monsoon (tropical) forests in the south, and equatorial forests in the far south, that is, monsoon (25%) and equatorial (5%).

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

Republic of South Sudan: gaining independence

The country is landlocked, and this significantly complicates communications with the outside world, since neighboring states can hardly be considered ideal neighbors. In addition to Sudan itself, the republic borders with Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, Kenya and Uganda.

Between the provinces that later became South Sudan and the central government of Sudan, the conflict 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 of asserting their own identity. However, the central government did not support this trend, and a civil war broke out, which lasted for several decades with minor interruptions.

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

Capital of South Sudan

The largest and most economically developed city in the country is Juba. 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 the decision was made to move the capital from Juba to Ramsel, but the civil war that began in 2013 prevented these plans.

Situated on the banks of the White Nile, Juba occupies a very advantageous geographical position and functions as a river trading port. However, other infrastructure has been severely damaged during successive military conflicts over almost five decades.

Most of the roads connecting Juba with other cities in the country were mined during the fighting and their demining, which began in 2005, has not yet been completed. The Swiss Demining Foundation is working on the roads leading from the capital to Uganda and Kenya, as these are the roads heavily used by local residents to escape from battle-torn areas 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 began building a new terminal with increased capacity. However, a 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 personnel and international non-governmental organizations engaged in charitable and peacekeeping activities in South Sudan. However, the airport still maintains 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, to which it is planned to move the capital of the young state of South Sudan. Like the current capital, Ramseilles is located on the western bank of the White Nile and has a major trading 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 experts about the suitability of these lands for large-scale construction. Some believe that the small rocky site among the swamps has enough space for the construction of a complex of government buildings.

The original plan called for the construction of a large airport, the creation of a free trade zone and the construction of a warehouse complex to handle large quantities of cargo.

Geography and biodiversity

South Sudan is rich in natural attractions, including the Sudd wetlands, Boma National Park and Southern National Park. The nature of the country is diverse and bizarre. Large herds of antelope, forest elephants, various species of primates, red river pigs and giant forest boars constitute the pride of the country.

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

Sudd Swamp Region

The Sudd wetlands are considered to be the largest floodplains in East Africa. Ferns and reeds grow in the vast wet expanses, serving as a haven for a large number of migratory birds that winter and feed here.

The heavy rainy season here lasts from early spring to autumn, but when it ends there can be a dry period during which steppe fires occur.

Swamp as an obstacle for ships

For many centuries, the swamps of the Sud region prevented 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 ships to pass, but also to the dense thickets of reeds and small shrubs, as well as various types of plants 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 the wetlands suitable for habitation and agriculture.

However, environmental organizations began to sound the alarm, since such a significant project could not but affect the fragile ecosystem of the region. In addition to huge populations of malarial mosquitoes, rare species of migratory birds may also be affected. And the water regime can change in the most unpredictable ways. Experts fear that the country of South Sudan will not be able to independently assess all possible risks, and propose to postpone such a grandiose project until the civil war in the country at least ends.

This is a young and very unique African state. Think about it: there are only 30 km of paved roads. highways and about 250 km of railway track. And even those are not in the best condition. Even the capital of South Sudan does not have running water. However, its residents do not lose heart and look to the future with hope, expecting only the best from it.

General information

• Full name: Republic of South Sudan.
• The area of ​​the country is 620 thousand sq. km.
• The capital of South Sudan is the city of Juba.
• Population - 11.8 million people (as of July 2014).
• Population density - 19 people/sq. km.
• The official language is English.
• The currency is the South Sudanese pound.
• The time difference with Moscow is minus 1 hour.

Geographical position

South Sudan is the youngest state in modern Africa. Only in the summer of 2011 did it gain independence from Sudan and thus acquire a new status. South Sudan is located in East Africa. It has no access to the sea. The north and center of the country are occupied by plains, and in the south there are highlands. home geographical feature This hot African country is that a river flows through its entire territory. This is one of the tributaries of the Nile - the White Nile. This is what gives very good potential for the development of agriculture and livestock. South Sudan borders Kenya and Ethiopia, Uganda, Sudan, Congo, and the Central African Republic.

Climate

The country is geographically located in the subequatorial climate zone. From this follows the characteristics of its weather conditions. It is hot here all year round. The seasons differ from each other only in the amount of precipitation. Winter period shorter. It is characterized by low rainfall. Summer is rainier. In the north of the country, annual precipitation is 700 mm, while in the south and southwest these figures are 2 times higher - 1400 mm. During the summer, rivers and swampy areas located in the central part of the republic are fed.

Flora and fauna

It is safe to say that South Sudan is a country that is relatively lucky in natural conditions. After all, a river flows through its entire territory, allowing plants and animals to exist. There are a lot of trees and shrubs in the country. The south of the state is occupied by tropical ones. In the extreme south there are equatorial ones. The Central African Highlands and the Ethiopian Range are covered with mountain forests. Along the riverbed there are gallery hearths and bushes. The state leadership is trying to preserve the natural wealth of their country. The president designated nature conservation as one of the most important areas of domestic policy. There are many protected areas and reserves here. Wildlife migration routes run through South Sudan. Nature has created ideal conditions for the settlement of these places by elephants, lions, giraffes, antelopes and other representatives of the fauna.

Population

The people of Sudan live in very difficult conditions. Almost a few survive to old age, or more precisely, to the age of 65, only 2%. The infant mortality rate is very high. This is due to many reasons. Low level life, poor-quality food, lack of drinking water, poorly developed medicine, frequent infection from sick animals - all this leads to the development of infectious diseases in the state of South Sudan. The country's population is just over 11 million people. Agree, this is not much.

And even despite high mortality and active migration, population growth rates remain high. The reason for this is good fertility. The average number of children per woman in the country is 5 or 4. Ethnic composition quite complex: more than 570 different ethnic groups and nationalities live here, most of them black Africans. The main religion is Christianity, although local African beliefs are important. Official language one is English, but Arabic is also very common. The bulk of the population lives in rural areas, in villages. City residents make up only 19% of the total population. The literacy rate also leaves much to be desired - 27%. Among men this percentage is 40%, among women - only 16%.

Political structure

Now South Sudan is an independent state. The country received this status after July 9, 2011, when it seceded from Sudan. The country is governed by the president, who is both the head of the republic and the head of government. He is elected for 4 years. The country's parliament is bicameral, consisting of the Council of States and the National Legislative Assembly. There are 3 political parties in parliament. Territorial division: the state of South Sudan consists of 10 states, which were formerly provinces. Each of them has its own constitution and governing bodies.

Flag

It consists of alternating stripes - black, white, red, white and green. On the left side there is a blue triangle with a star. What does the flag symbolize? The color black speaks of the black nation. White is a symbol of freedom that the people have dreamed of gaining for so long. Red is the color of blood shed by millions in the struggle for their independence. Green is a symbol of the fertility of the land, the richness of the flora and fauna of South Sudan. The blue color symbolizes the waters of the White Nile - the river that gives life to this country. The star on the state flag speaks of the integrity of its individual 10 states. The idea of ​​such a state symbol is as follows: the black Africans inhabiting South Sudan have united in a complex struggle for peace and prosperity for all residents of their country.

Coat of arms

Another distinctive sign of the state is also very symbolic. The coat of arms depicts a bird with open wings. Namely, the secretary bird. This representative of the genus of birds lives in African meadows and savannas and is particularly resilient. It spends a long time tracking and attacking its prey (small lizards, snakes and even young gazelles), moving on foot. The secretary bird is held in high esteem by many African peoples. Her image is present on the presidential flag, the state seal, and on military insignia. On the coat of arms, her head is turned to the right, a characteristic crest is visible in profile. At the top of the image there is a banner with the inscription “Victory is ours”, at the bottom there is another one indicating the name of the state “Republic of Sudan”. The bird has a shield in its paws. The full name of the state is once again indicated along the edge of the coat of arms.

History of the development of the state

There was no state as such on the modern territory of South Sudan during the colonization of Africa. Only separate tribes lived here and lived peacefully with each other. They represented different nationalities who got along well side by side. When European states, primarily Great Britain, began to actively invade new lands, subjecting them to colonization, the peace of the local residents was disturbed. Colonizers seize territories in order to take possession of their resources. South Sudan was no exception.

Europeans were interested in both slaves and gold, timber, ivory. The first such invasions began in 1820-1821, and the invaders were Turkish-Egyptian troops. As a result of these raids, millions of residents became slaves in neighboring Arab countries. For more than 60 years, the Turkish-Egyptian regime existed in Sudan. Then power passed to Ottoman Empire. After its collapse, Egypt and Britain conspired to take over Sudan, dividing it into north and south. It was only in 1956 that Sudan became independent, with different administrative structures for the north and south. Since that time, civil clashes began within the country.

Historians and political scientists believe that in the north of the country the colonialists developed socio-economic sectors of life, while they did not deal with the south, leaving everything to Christian missionaries. There were different development programs for the north and south, a visa regime was introduced for crossing borders, and residents of South Sudan were prohibited from contacting foreigners. All this only increased without bringing the desired socio-economic development. Then the British colonialists changed their policy, launching a “unification” mission. However, she found herself against the southerners. In fact, the British, united with the elite of the north, dictated living conditions to the population of the south. South Sudan was left without political and economic power.

In 1955, an uprising broke out against the invaders. This civil war lasted 17 years. As a result, an agreement was signed in 1972, which gave some freedom to the Republic of South Sudan. Independence, however, largely remained only on paper. Forced Islamization, enslavement, massacres, executions and complete stagnation in socio-economic life continued. Real change came in 2005, when another peace agreement was signed in Nairobi, Kenya. It stipulated that South Sudan would receive a new Constitution, some autonomy and self-government. On July 9, 2005, the leader of the black liberation movement, Dr. Garang, became the first vice president of the Republic of Sudan. The agreement defined a period of 6 years, after which the republic can hold a referendum on self-determination. And then on July 9, 2011, a popular vote was held, in which 98% of South Sudanese voted for the sovereignty of the state. From that time on, a new stage in the life of the country began.

Foreign policy

After the referendum and declaration of independence, South Sudan acquired sovereignty. Surprisingly, the first state to officially recognize this was its northern neighbor. Currently, almost all powers of the world have recognized the new state, including Russia. Foreign policy is focused on nearby African countries, including Great Britain. Interaction with Northern Sudan remains extremely difficult due to a large number of controversial economic and territorial issues. But many international organizations are successfully cooperating with the new state. For example, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the European Union, the International Olympic Committee, the UN. It was recognized by all BRICS members and countries.

Economy

South Sudan and North Sudan have been fighting each other for too long. This did not have a positive impact on the country's economy. Although there are more than enough problems in the national economy, South Sudan has enormous potential. The country is rich in resources. This is primarily oil. Sudan's budget is 98% filled with income from the sale of black gold. The presence of the river makes it possible to obtain cheap hydropower for industrial development. There are many other minerals - copper, zinc, tungsten, gold and silver. Lack of transport routes, lack of electricity, poor quality of drinking water, destroyed infrastructure - all this hinders economic development. However, the country has no external debt, and the level of income exceeds expenses. This is why Sudan is considered a country with high potential. IN agriculture They grow cotton, peanuts, papaya, mangoes, bananas, sesame and wheat. Cattle breeding is based on the breeding of camels and sheep.

Healthcare

This social sphere is very poorly developed. Low levels of infrastructure and literacy contribute to the spread of infectious diseases. Every now and then epidemics of malaria and cholera and black fever break out. The country has one of the highest rates of HIV infection in the world. There are strange diseases here that are found nowhere else in the world, for example, sternocleidomatous fever.

Attractions

The cities of South Sudan cannot boast of anything unusual. The main attraction of the country is its beautiful and unique nature. It is in virgin, untouched condition. Here you can enjoy views of the savannah and its inhabitants. This is a paradise for safari lovers. IN national park on the border with Congo and in the Boma National Park you can see wild animals - giraffes, lions, antelopes - in their natural habitat.

Big cities

The capital of the republic is the most big city in it. The population of Juba is about 372 thousand people.

Other big cities- Wau, which has a population of 110 thousand, Malakai - 95 thousand, Yei - 62 thousand, Uvail - 49 thousand. As already noted, this is a mostly rural country, with only 19% of the population living in cities. However, the government plans to move the capital to Ramseilles. For now, Juba remains the main city. South Sudan announced the construction of a new administrative capital district in the center of the country.