South Sudan
South Sudan exhibits low performance across all categories of the Global State of Democracy (GSoD) framework, and is amongst the bottom 25 per cent of countries with regard to all factors of democracy. While South Sudan is natural resource-rich, its economy is low-income and is nearly entirely dependent on oil-revenue. Agriculture is the second most important sector of its economy and remains the primary source of livelihood for most households. Economic growth has been weak partly due to widespread corruption, prolonged civil conflict and lack of infrastructure. Compared to 2018, South Sudan has experienced significant improvements in Rule of Law, including Judicial Independence and Predictable Enforcement.
The pre-colonial history of South Sudan is largely pieced together through oral traditions. Early inhabitants included mound-builders known as the Luel or Turkwel, followed by the migration of Nilotic groups. Non-Nilotic peoples arrived in the 17th century, creating a diverse society shaped by migration, agropastoralism and social hierarchies. South Sudan was first ruled by Egypt and later jointly by Egyptian-British colonial administrators in the late 19th century. While the north was greatly influenced by Arab-Islamic culture and religion, Christian missionaries helped spread the English language and Christianity in the south, leading to significant cultural differences between the two.
Following Sudan’s independence in 1956, the southern region was promised political inclusion, but unmet assurances led to two civil wars, causing the deaths of millions. A US-backed peace agreement in 2005 granted the South autonomy, and a 2011 referendum resulted in a near-unanimous vote for independence. Following independence, South Sudan has continued to face problems with its neighbor. Although most oil reserves are in South Sudan, the necessary infrastructure for transporting the oil goes through Sudan, causing disagreement around oil revenue sharing. Since independence, South Sudan has been mired in political conflict and ethnic violence, causing a dire human rights and humanitarian crisis. A civil war erupted in 2013 between President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar, who represent different ethnic groups. Despite peace agreements in 2015 and 2018, respectively, which aimed to establish a power-sharing agreement and form a transitional government, progress has been slow, with recurring violence and delayed implementation. A transitional government was formed in 2020, but wrangling over power-sharing and governance has hindered lasting peace. With elections scheduled for December 2024, the country continues to grapple with a worsening humanitarian crisis and climate-related disasters.
Gender-based violence is widespread and systemic throughout the country. Other issues include low female literacy, insufficient health services, minimal representation of women in political and decision-making processes, and harmful traditional practices, such as early marriage. Government forces and armed groups have also been accused of committing other serious human rights violations and abuses, including extrajudicial executions, state repression, and the recruitment and use of children in armed groups.
Looking ahead, it will be important to monitor the humanitarian and security crisis and its impact on the country’s democratic performance in multiple areas, including Basic Welfare, Political Equality and Personal Integrity and Security. While there remain uncertainties surrounding the feasibility of South Sudan’s December 2024 polls – the country’s first since gaining independence – if materialized, it will be critical to keep a close eye on Credible Elections and Civic Engagement.
Last updated: September 2024
https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/
March 2025
Detention of opposition leaders destabilises peace deal
On 26 March, First Vice-President Riek Machar was placed under house arrest by security forces, accused of inciting rebellion to derail the peace process. The move prompted fears of renewed civil war. Machar’s party, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement In Opposition (SPLM-IO), said the arrest violated the 2018 peace deal, which it declared had collapsed. Other senior SPLM-IO figures were also detained and replaced by President Salva Kiir loyalists. The move followed 4 March clashes, when the White Army, a Machar-linked militia, attacked army positions in Upper Nile. Government forces responded with airstrikes on civilian areas, reportedly using barrel bombs, causing causalities and displacing at least 63,000 people. The crisis deepened with Uganda’s deployment of troops and tanks into South Sudan, raising concerns over arms embargo breaches and foreign interference. In February, Kiir dismissed two vice-presidents and promoted his adviser Benjamin Bol Mel, positioning him as a likely successor.
Sources: United Nations, The Guardian, Africa Confidential, Institute for Security Studies, British Broadcasting Corporation, Radio Tamazuj, Reuters
January 2025
Riots lead to causalities, curfew, and social media suspension
On 16 and 17 January, riots erupted in Juba and other parts of South Sudan following reports of South Sudanese nationals being killed in Sudan's El Gezira state earlier in the month. In retaliation, at least 16 Sudanese nationals were killed according to South Sudan police, while youths looted and vandalized shops owned by Sudanese individuals and burned several homes. In response, authorities imposed a nationwide dusk-to-dawn curfew starting on 17 January, which lasted for more than 10 days and was intended to restore security and prevent further destruction of property. Additionally, on 22 January, the National Communication Authority ordered internet service providers to block access to social media platforms, including Facebook and TikTok, for a minimum of 30 days, citing concerns over the spread of graphic videos depicting the reported killing of South Sudanese nationals in Sudan. However, the social media ban was lifted on 27 January after the removal of the material in question.
Sources: South Sudan National Communication Authority, Radio Tamazuj, Associated Press, Reuters (1), Reuters (2), Committee to Protect Journalists
September 2024
Government postpones elections for the fourth time since independence
On 20 September, South Sudan’s parliament approved a two-year postponement of the long-awaited elections announced by the transitional government on 13 September, citing delays in implementing key provisions of the 2018 peace agreement and insufficient funds to register voters. The elections, originally scheduled for December 2024, are now expected to be held in 2026. This marks the fourth election postponement in the past decade, with South Sudan yet to hold elections since gaining independence in 2011. The decision has drawn sharp criticism from both national and international actors. A group of South Sudanese lawyers petitioned the court, challenging the legality of the postponement, while the United States, the United Kingdom, and Norway – international guarantors of the peace process – issued a joint statement condemning the delay as a failure of leadership.
Sources: Sudan Tribune, Radio Tamazuj, VOA News, Africa Confidential, AP News, International Peace Institute
August 2024
Controversial national security bill becomes law by default
Despite international pressure and objections from opposition parties, the controversial law allowing the country’s National Security Service (NSS) to conduct warrantless arrests was enacted by default after President Salva Kiir’s decision not to sign or veto it. On 3 July, South Sudan’s parliament passed the amended National Security Services Act, criticized for granting broad powers to NSS, including arrest and detention without court oversight for ‘crimes against the state’, a vaguely worded provision that critics argue is often used to suppress freedoms of expression, assembly, and association. The bill also grants the government extensive surveillance capabilities, raising fears of further shrinking of civic space.
Sources: International IDEA, Radio Tamazuj, The Associated Press
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