South Sudan a Paradise on Earth

By Ater Yuot R. Amogpai

About 90% of South Sudan land constitutes of savannah or natural forests. It is the world’s youngest country that has fallen victim to the “natural resource curse”. South Sudan became independence from Sudan, which was up to July 2011 the largest African state of 2.5 square kilometers. Some 98% voted in favors of a South Sudanese state, after two prolonged conflicts, the first was in 1955-1972 and the second occurred in 1983-2005. This new nation 640,000 square kilometers (similar in size to France) borders 6 countries: Sudan to the north, Ethiopia to the east, the Central African Republic to the west. Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda all lie south. Much of the land forms part of the White Nile watershed and is thus a vast flood plain.

The total population is estimated at around 11 million inhabitants. The majority of which are located in rural areas with only less than 10% of them found in urban areas. The most populous city is the capital Juba with approximately 372000 inhabitants. The country is made up of ten states, then into counties which are in turn sub-divided into Payams which split into Bomas, at village level.  At the latter level individual clans are represented.

South Sudan is a landlocked country situated between latitudes 3° and 13° N and longitudes 24° and 36° E. Altitudes are between 400 m and 3000 m above sea level. Mean average temperature is between 26º-32ºC. South Sudan has a semi-humid climate. Average national rainfall is between 500 mm to 2000 mm. The wettest region in South Sudan is the equatorial forests in the south-west at 1200-2200 mm. The driest region is that of the south west and receives only 200 mm. The rainy regime is mono-modal and the wet season is from April to December, with predominance in July, which frequently results in mass flooding of the Nile. During this time navigation around the rural areas in motorized vehicles is problematic. Therefore, transportation and potentially any business or infrastructural development is restricted to the dry season.

South Sudan is a piece of land equivalent to a paradise of Adam and Eve that was mentioned in the bible. The land is blessed with extremely valuable resources: water, forests, animals, minerals, and the fertile land that could make the country the richest in the world. Water is the nation’s greatest asset and so plentiful rain means agriculture potential contribution to food security. Some 30 million ha of arable land of which only 5% is cultivated. Land use generally, could reduce food import dependency per year. It would also present a useful export opportunity to the neighboring countries.

The high potential of hydropower could meet the country’s needs of electric energy. The forests would present wooden and paper products and provide a significant market potential. With country’s reserve animal resources the high potential of milk and meat products would be secured. The fertile land makes it easy to pave roads throughout the country and accelerate the development and variety businesses. All these resources if well enhanced and developed could prove a significant future contribution to the wealth of the country.  

In spite of oil, the country is severely underdeveloped meaning subsistence agriculture provides the only source of “income” for the vast majority. Indeed, the number of people living below the poverty line is very high. State security and welfare is far from assured, although developing. South Sudan's dependency on oil revenues lies currently at 98% of the national budget and although South Sudan holds more than 75% of the total oil reserves of the previous Sudan, it still needs Sudanese oil infrastructures, facilities and ports in order to export it to international markets. Such complications make it difficult to see oil as a safe long term socio-economic or geopolitical strategy.

A huge development and investment conference was successfully completed before eruption of current fighting in December 15, 2013. A fighting has assured unwillingness and disgrace opportunity of development, prosperity and security of the nation. The conference was the chance of development to take place since the creature. Instead, we favor fighting and destruction rather than development. With these huge resources our leaders have failed to turn them into the benefits of the nation. 11 million inhabitants compared to these resources could make each of South Sudanese a millionaire. South Sudan a paradise on earth has absolutely turned into a hell on earth by our unwillingness and disgrace of development, prosperity and security of the nation.