The Republic of South Sudan, is the world's newest country and was founded on 9th July 2011, after a referendum in which the predominantly Christian South seceeded from the mostly Muslim North, following decades of political, economic and social marginalisation and the North's rejection of Southern autonomy.

 

It has a highly ethnically and linguistically diverse population of around 15 million and a mainly rural, subsistence economy. It is rich in oil, but decades of war have halted development. 

​

Since independence from Britain and Egypt in 1956 the area has been affected by ongoing civil war, which have resulted in major destruction and the deaths of around 1.5 million people, and the displacement of around 6 million.

 

Since 2013, the country has once more been plunged into civil war after a power struggle between President Salva Kiir and his deputy Machar.