South Sudan is the world’s newest country. It’s located in Central Africa, is about the size of Texas and has about as many people as Ohio (11 million). South Sudan is one of the poorest countries in the world, has a 27 percent literacy rate and is so underdeveloped that it has only about 35 miles of paved road. Its economy is driven by oil exports.
South Sudan declared independence from the rest of Sudan on July 9, 2011. At the time, it was considered a huge success for the world. But its 2½ years as a sovereign state have been disastrous. This latest crisis is just another part of the country’s struggle to stand on its own.
South Sudan is largely open plains, marked by hilly regions and thick equatorial vegetation. The Nile River is a major natural feature of the South Sudan. It traverses the country and flows through some of its regional centres, including the capital city, Juba. It facilitates trade, administration and urbanization in some rural areas.
South Sudan holds other natural resources including oil, gold, silver, iron ore and copper, and many more. South SudThe country’s large fertile lands have produced cassava, groundnuts, sweet potato, sorghum, sesame, maize, rice, finger millet, cowpea and beans. They are also the site of one of the world’s largest animal migrations each year.
South Sudan has an equatorial climate, with high humidity and plenty of rainfall. The rainy season varies from region to region but generally falls between April and November. January and February are marked by their stifling heat and empty skies.
