On 9 July 2025, South Sudan celebrates 14 years of independence. After fighting what is known as the world’s longest civil war with Sudan pre-independence, South Sudan gained its independence on 9 July 2011. The country, considered to be the youngest nation in the world, has vastly suffered in terms of development, economy, education, and even security. During its years of independence, the country has gone through many political events.
South Sudan has witnessed continuous civil wars in 2013 and again in 2016 , between President Salva Kiir and his Vice President Riek Machar. The dispute was addressed through the signing of the Revitalised Peace Agreement in 2018.
The civil war affected the country’s economic growth. It was then hit by global economic inflation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. All these events have placed South Sudan in a critical position within the global economic system.
According to reports by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and multiple economic analyses, South Sudan ranks as the poorest country in the world, while Sudan ranks at sixth place. The report by the international monetary fund world economic outlook states that the country has a GDP per capita of just USD251.
When war broke out between the Sudanese armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan in April 2023, South Sudan lost a vital source of revenue; oil. The country exported its oil through Sudan, and almost 90% of the country’s economy depends on oil income. During the ongoing war in Sudan, major oil pipelines were damaged, forcing Sudan to halt oil exports for nearly a year. The government’s inability to fully restore oil exports for most of 2024 led to a cascading humanitarian emergency. Hunger soared as food prices spiked and the local currency plunged. At the same time, the ongoing war in Sudan spilled over human suffering into South Sudan. By mid-2024, the country hosted an influx of at least 700,000 refugees fleeing fighting in Sudan.
Although South Sudan is rich in oil, the neglect of other sources of income has put it in a fragile situation where external circumstances, such as Sudan’s war, can worsen its economic standing.
According to a report shared by the World Bank, the country faced extreme deprivation defined as the share of households unable to afford even basic food which rose by 4% points to 70% in 2022, then increased to 84% in 2023 and 92% in 2024.
The unstable security situation in South Sudan also plays a significant role in its dire economic state. In March 2025, conflict broke out again in Upper Nile State between the White Army, a group of militias, and the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), formerly the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), the country’s military force.. As a result, Nasir and Ulang counties in Upper Nile State are at imminent risk of famine due to intense fighting and aerial bombardments, resulting in the displacement of over 100,000 people and severely restricted humanitarian access, according to the World Food Programme (WFP).
Reports indicate that 2025 is going to be a difficult year for South Sudan, specifically economically. The country needs swift and practical interventions to save its economy. The government must find alternative solutions, as people are currently struggling to secure their basic needs and its youth are suffering to find jobs in the midst of this inflation.
Although the country is going through immense hardship, the people and especially the youth of South Sudan still hold onto hope for sustainable peace that could lead to good governance. The people of South Sudan spent many years living as refugees and in the diaspora. Many had hoped that independence would mark a new chapter in their lives within their own country.
There was a widespread belief that independence signified the end of war. Even though that dream has since been shattered, and the feeling of independence no longer holds the same promise it once did, people are still trying to cling to the hope they once had.
500WM Columnist Dominica Amet Joseph Marco is a 26-year-old South Sudanese writer, freelance journalist and feminist/social activist who graduated from the faculty of law from the University of Bahri in 2018. She is one of many who had to flee war in Sudan to finally come and live in her homeland South Sudan. She has written and published articles, stories and poems since 2017. She has worked with and published articles in Aka’bar Alwatan Newspaper in Sudan, Almugif Newspaper in South Sudan, and several other Arabic websites.
