South Sudan: Africa’s newest State at a glance

By  Mwenda wa Micheni

Inside the UNDP offices in Juba is an expressive image. Standing on a corner table, there are two flags: a tall UN flag that stand next to a short one of the newest country, South Sudan.

In a way, this image echoes the reality across the country. In almost every village, you will spot a UN vehicle pulling through the mostly rough terrain, or some NGO workers struggling to offer services to the 12 million people that make the young nation. But that would be expected in a country that has never quite started.

After over two decades of quarrelling with Khartoum, the country had little to build on. Even in more peaceful times, the region was marginalised by the centralised system then housed in Khartoum city.

The deprivation attracted the international community’s attention, especially after the 2005 agreement with Sudan that led to the referendum and secession in 2011.

So far, the country is host to 22 United Nations agencies and the largest UN humanitarian programme inside one country.

As a country without solid institutions, South Sudan can only build from scratch. Alleged cases of corruption have rendered it difficult, and pushed the president to sack government officials.

Political squabbles, especially due to regional politics and the unfinished businesses of the war time hang over the Juba administration. This and other challenges have pushed the national security budget up, gobbling up to 33 per cent of the national budget ( 2013/2014), at the expense of other capital investments.

Outside the circle of elites, the country largely relies on subsistence economy.

So far, with the unpredictability around petrodollars thanks to the unstable relationship with Khartoum, the country is trying to diversify its economy into non-oil sectors. Before the oil shutdown in January last year, up to 98 per cent of country’s revenue came from oil.

Last year, the government budget stood at around $3 billion, supplemented by $1 billion of development aid, and $ 300 million of humanitarian assistance.

And the challenges are tough. For instance, up to 38 per cent of the population walks for more than 30 minutes to collect drinking water and up to 80 per cent of the population does not have access to sanitation facility.

“We have a heavy burden due to economic pressures,” said Daniel Gumuel, Health Minister, Lakes State. “Cut soon, we will be okay.”