Ethnicity and Nation Building: South Sudan

Abstract

South Sudan seceded from the Northern Sudan to become a formally independent state on 9 July, 2011 after a referendum between 9th and 15th January 2011, which was held to determine whether South Sudan should be declared independence from Sudan. Despite this overwhelming breakthrough where 98.83% of the population voted for independent including those living in the north and expatriates living overseas, certain disputes still remain, such as sharing of the oil revenues, as an estimated 80% of the oil in the nation is secured from South Sudan, which would represent amazing economic potential for one of the world's most deprived areas. The purpose of this study was to find out whether ethnicity is a barrier to nation building in the current South Sudan.Primary data was gathered from Government Officer, Social/Political Activists, Non- Governmental Organization NGOs, members of the General Public. Secondary sources of data include analysis and review of published books, journals, papers, periodicals, and unpublished works; Government documents including policy documents and Session Papers, media sources and the internet. The study found out that the widespread suspicion of ethnicity-based exclusion from the national platform and other aspects of South Sudanese national life have resulted in tragic consequences for national unity, human life, and development programs. The main stumbling block to a long lasting peace and unity is ethnic strife and rivalries. For instance, ethnic relations in the city of Juba have been extremely volatile due to accusations that the Dinka, South Sudan’s largest ethnic group, have dominated the government.