Introduction

South Sudan, officially Republic of South Sudan, republic (2015 est. pop. 11,882,000), 248,777 sq mi (644,329 sq km), E Africa. South Sudan is bordered by Sudan (N), Ethiopia (E), Kenya, (SE), Uganda (S), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (SW), and the Central African Republic (W). The capital and largest city is Juba other sizable cities are Malakal, Waw (Wau), and Yei.

Land and People

The main geographical feature of the landlocked country is the White Nile and its tributaries, including the Bahr el Ghazal, the Yei, and the Sabat. The plains and hills in the northern and central parts of the country are characterized by swampland (the enormous Sudd, which constitutes one sixth of the country), savanna, and forests. The terrain rises to mountains in the extreme south; the highest point is Kinyeti (10,456 ft/3,187 m) on the border with Uganda. The tropical climate is marked by seasonal rainfall; the plains are drier than the southern highlands.

The largest ethnic groups in the ethnically diverse nation are the Dinka, Nuer, Shilluk, and Bari, all of whom speak Nilotic languages, and the Azande, who are Bantu speakers. Most South Sudanese follow traditional African religious beliefs, but about 18% are Christian and some are Muslim. English is the countrys official working language, but Arabic is the lingua franca; all indigenous languages are constitutionally recognized as national languages.

Economy

South Sudan has fertile and well-watered soils, and the economy is overwhelmingly agricultural. Much farming is subsistence-based, with shifting cultivation and herding. The main subsistence crops include sorghum, maize, and other grains, tropical fruits, and sweet potatoes and cassava; the chief cash crop is cotton. Cattle, goats, and other livestock are raised, and forest products such as gum arabic and tropical hardwoods also are produced. Fish caught in the countrys rivers and swamps are an important dietary staple. Industry is little developed. Most manufacturing facilities were destroyed during the civil war, but there is some food processing. Oil, discovered in 1978, is present in significant deposits in the north, and the fields have been extensively developed. Nearly all government revenues come from oil exports, which are transported via pipeline to Port Sudan, on the Red Sea in Sudan. Uranium, gold, and other mineral resources have not been exploited, and the countrys hydroelectric resources are undeveloped. There are few paved roads. Sudan, Uganda, and Kenya are the countrys leading trade partners.

Government

The country is governed under a transitional constitution that took effect with independence in 2011. The president, who is popularly elected for a four-year term, is both head of state and head of government; his cabinet must be approved by the National Legislative Assembly. The National Legislature consists of the National Legislative Assembly, whose 332 members serve four-year terms, and a Council of States, whose 50 members also serve four-year terms. The judicial branch is headed by the Supreme Court. Administratively, South Sudan is divided into 10 states.