Factbook
History of South Sudan — Timeline
Key dates in the history of South Sudan, from the Magna Factbook and the Universal Encyclopedia.
1955However, the Arab government in Khartoum reneged on its promises, prompting two periods of civil war (1955-1972 and 1983-2005) in which as many as 2.5 million people died -- mostly civilians -- due largely to starvation and drought.
1956When Sudan gained its independence in 1956, the southern region received assurances that it would participate fully in the political system.
2005Peace talks resulted in a US-backed Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005, which granted the South six years of autonomy followed by a referendum on final status.
2011South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, is the world’s newest country.
2011The result of this referendum, held in 2011, was a vote of 98% in favor of secession.
2013In 2013, conflict erupted between forces loyal to President Salva KIIR, a Dinka, and forces loyal to Vice President Riek MACHAR, a Nuer.
2015KIIR and MACHAR signed a peace agreement in 2015 that created a Transitional Government of National Unity the next year.
2018A "revitalized" peace agreement was signed in 2018, mostly ending the fighting and laying the groundwork for a unified national army, a transitional government, and elections.
2020Languages: English (official), Arabic (includes Juba and Sudanese variants), ethnic languages include Dinka, Nuer, Bari, Zande, Shilluk Religions: Christian 60.5%, folk religion 32.9%, Muslim 6.2%, other <1%, unaffiliated <1% (2020 est.) Urban population: 21.2% of total population (2023).
2020Since 2020, implementation of the peace agreement has been stalled amid wrangling over power-sharing, which has contributed to an uptick in communal violence and the country’s worst food crisis since independence, with 7 of 11 million South Sudanese citizens in need of humanitarian assistance.
2020The transitional government was formed in 2020, when MACHAR returned to Juba as first vice president.
2022The transitional period was extended an additional two years in 2022, pushing elections to late 2024.
2023Agriculture: milk, cassava, sorghum, goat milk, vegetables, fruits, groundnuts, sesame seeds, beef, maize (2023) Electricity access: 8.4% (2022 est.).
2023Generation mix — fossil fuels: 93.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); solar: 6.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) Energy use: 2.092 million Btu/person (2023 est.).
2023Major urban areas: 459,000 JUBA (capital) (2023) low-income, oil-based Sahelian economy; extreme poverty and food insecurity; COVID-19 and ongoing violence threaten socioeconomic potential; environmentally fragile; ongoing land and property rights issues; natural resource rich but lacks infrastructure Inflation: 91.4% (2024 est.).
2024Military spending: 2% of GDP (2024 est.).
2024Population: 12.7 million (2024 estimate).
