Independent since 2011, South Sudan has been riven by violence for most of its brief history. Why We Wrote This In South Sudan, young people have grown up in the shadow of war and ethnic conflict. After a long civil war with the northern part of the country, South Sudan became independent in 2011. “Once the external enemy [Sudan] was removed, they turned on each other,” explains Daniel Akech, a senior analyst for South Sudan with the International Crisis Group. “Life in South Sudan is very difficult because things these days [have] become very expensive,” she explains.

Source: The North Africa Journal January 07, 2026 10:20 UTC