A New Country, Endless Troubles

Sudan was a country plagued by more than 50 years of conflict that killed millions. After decades of fighting for independence from the north, southern Sudan seceded on July 9, 2011, becoming the world’s 193rd country, the Republic of South Sudan. Over the past few years repeated conflict with North Sudan, corruption scandals and economic difficulties have plagued the new country. The US along with many other western countries have invested billions of dollars in South Sudan, hoping it would overcome its deep history of poverty, violence and ethnic instability to emerge as a stable, Western-friendly nation in a volatile region. Today South Sudan is one of the most underdeveloped countries in the world.