South Sudan is a landlocked country in East Africa. It borders
Sudan to the north, Ethiopia to the east, Kenya to the south-east,
Uganda to the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the
south-west and the Central African Republic to the west. Its capital
is Juba. However, due to the civil war that lasted from 2013 to 2018
and its ongoing political and social upheaval, South Sudan no longer
exists as a cohesive, sovereign state entity.
The area was an
autonomous region within Sudan from 1972 to 1983 and again from 2005
to 2011. South Sudan gained independence from Sudan on July 9, 2011.
South Sudan is one of the poorest countries in the world.
The authoritarian government regularly commits serious
violations of human rights.
Central Equatoria (English Central Equatoria)
Eastern Equatoria
Juggle
Lakes
Gazelle River (North) (English Northern Bahr
el-Ghazal)
Unity/Western Upper Nile
Upper Nile
Warrap
Gazelle River (West) (English Western Bahr el-Ghazal)
Western
Equatoria
Juba
Aweil
Bentiu
boron
Malakal
Nimule
Rumbek
Torit
Yambio
Entry requirements
When entering the country, it is to be expected
that proof of yellow fever vaccination will be required. This is
mandatory for everyone older than 9 months.
All foreign travelers
require a passport with a valid visa upon entry. For Germans and
Austrians this is available from
South Sudanese Embassy,
Leipziger Platz 8, 10117 Berlin. Tel.: +49 30 206 445 90. Also
responsible for Austria. Unusual requirements for the visa are, on the
one hand, a photo size of 5×5 cm against a white background. 2
application forms, copies of the passport page with personal data and
return flight confirmation. Tourists must present bank statements from
the last three months certifying a minimum balance of €3,000. Processing
time 5-6 days. The visa fee is only due after approval and the applicant
will be notified of this. There are only single-entry visas for up to 30
days. Open: Mon.-Fri. 10-12, 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Price: 100 US$ at the current
exchange rate.
South Sudan has accredited an official
representation in Switzerland in Geneva:
Ambassade de la République
du Soudan du Sud, Ave de France 23, 1202 Geneva. Tel.: +41 22 919 40 40,
email: mission.rss.geneve@hotmail.ch.
Customs regulations
In
South Sudan, the import regulations have not yet been finally regulated.
Individual decisions may therefore have to be taken into account when
entering the country. Private travelers are allowed to import up to
$10,000 tax-free and duty-free. If this amount is exceeded, 10% customs
duties and 15% tax will apply.
By plane
There are no direct
flight connections between Germany and South Sudan. You can travel by
plane with Egyptair via Cairo, with Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa
or with Kenya Airlines via Nairobi.
When traveling with Egyptair,
an overnight stay in Cairo in a transit hotel is included in the flight
price. Passengers wishing to take advantage of this overnight stay must
report to the transit desk on the arrivals level of Cairo International
Airport. Here you can get the vouchers for the overnight stay. With your
own shuttle you can go e.g. to the Novotel Cairo-Airport. Dinner is
included, as is the shuttle service to the airport the next morning. At
the customer center, the traveler receives his passport back and can
take the onward flight to Juba Airport.
By train
Since train
traffic in Sudan was stopped, the route to Waru is no longer served.
By bus
Within the country there are bus services between the
capital and the border with Uganda at Nimule. There are also bus routes
to the Imatong Mountains.
On the street
Sudan and South Sudan
have been negotiating the opening of a total of ten border crossings
since 2017. By April 2018, four were planned and three were specified in
more detail:
The border river Bahr al-Arab is crossed at 10°23'30.6"
N, 25°24'55.2" E on the road from Raja (South Sudan) to Buram (Sudan).
Between Bentiu (South Sudan) and Heglig (هجليج; Sudan) at 9°45'00.1" N,
29°32'08.3" E.
A good ten kilometers north of Geigar, at 12°14'10.6"
N, 32°45'41.6" E on the road that runs parallel to the White Nile
between Renk (South Sudan) and Kusti (كوستي; Sudan) then directly north
to Khartoum .
Only the latter opened in February, but it was
closed again in April 2018 and reported open at the end of June. Whether
and when a (permanent) transit opportunity for foreigners will exist
here cannot be foreseen in July 2018 and must be inquired on site.
The intercity roads are mostly developed, but often have road damage.
Many roads, including in the capital Juba, are “dirt roads” that are
often riddled with rocks, holes and water. Vehicles can only be driven
extremely slowly and extremely carefully.
Within the capital
Juba, local minibuses are in use and run specific routes. There are no
timetables for this. Motorbike taxis, which are available at all
transport hubs, offer a cost-effective way to be transported
individually from place to place. It is advisable to hire a driver with
an appropriate off-road vehicle on a daily basis through the hotel.
The official language is English. Arabic (Juba Arabic) is also sometimes used. There are also regionally widespread tribal languages.
Exchange rates: 1 US$ = 641 “South Sudanese pounds” (SSP; UN
operational rate: 1 US$ = 651). The central bank publishes official
rates.
“Credit cards (Mastercard/Visa) can be used in Juba at
selected shops, hotels and restaurants. Other foreign bank cards are not
accepted in South Sudan. Cash, preferably in USD, should be carried. USD
notes should be current; older notes are often rejected. 100 USD bills
are preferred.”
Since the foreigners found in South Sudan are
mainly those sent by aid organizations who have correspondingly large
expense accounts, travelers are often charged unreasonable prices.
The larger cities offer accommodation of all categories. However, a 5-star hotel corresponds at most to a 3*S hotel in the German category. Better houses offer free access to the Internet via WiFi.
The German Foreign Office has issued a travel warning for South Sudan. Security is guaranteed in the capital Juba. Usual precautionary measures as in other cities around the world are advised. When traveling overland, UNMISS should be consulted. Nimule on the border with Uganda, as well as the Nimule National Park can be classified as safe. Travel to the northern provinces should be avoided due to the conflicts within South Sudan.
Tropical diseases of all kinds occur.
The expensive Platinum
packages of additional medical transport/rescue flight insurance
(usually only covered to a very limited extent by foreign health
insurance policies) for East Africa from AMREF (2022: 30 days 16-80 US$)
also cover South Sudan.
A well-developed mobile phone network, including fast internet of up to 3.7G, is available in the country's cities and on the most important intercity roads.
During the Turkish-Egyptian rule from 1821, the region came under the influence of what is now Northern Sudan and eventually became part of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. The colonial government stopped the slave trade but invested little in education and infrastructure in the south. From 1930 to 1946 it actively tried to prevent Arab-Islamic influences from the north as part of the Southern Policy.
In 1947, at the Juba Conference, it was decided that the southern
part of Sudan should remain under northern Sudanese leadership. Southern
representatives were not involved in this decision. Many South Sudanese
felt marginalized and oppressed in the whole of Sudan, which became
independent from Great Britain and Egypt in 1956. From 1955 to 1972 and
again from 1983, rebels fought for the independence of South Sudan. In
the period between the two wars (1972–1983), South Sudan already existed
as an autonomous region as a result of the 1972 peace agreement, but the
central government increasingly intervened in its autonomy.
From
1983, the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) took over the leadership
on the separatist side. In 2005, it reached a peace agreement with the
government in Khartoum.
The Sudanese government agreed to grant autonomy to the region in the 2005 peace agreement. SPLA leader John Garang became vice president of all Sudan and provisional president of the autonomous region. On July 30, 2005, Garang died in a helicopter crash and was succeeded by Salva Kiir Mayardit. He was confirmed as president of the autonomous region (and later the independent state) in the 2010 presidential elections in South Sudan. The simultaneous parliamentary and gubernatorial elections reaffirmed the SPLA's political dominance in South Sudan.
Even after the peace agreement, there were various clashes between
troops from the north and south, but these did not escalate into war.
There are always local fights within South Sudan, which are
simplistically presented as “tribal conflicts”. Behind this are
conflicts over land and livestock, but also the SPLA's difficulties in
setting up a functioning administration: Local administrators are mostly
former SPLA commanders with little administrative experience.
Administrative units are often defined “ethnically” and their boundaries
are not precisely defined. State institutions have only a limited
ability to resolve conflicts. The distribution of state resources is
often not transparent, which is why certain groups feel disadvantaged.
In particular, the Dinka, the largest population group, are accused of
excessive dominance.
In Jonglei and Unity states, several
(former) SPLA commanders such as George Athor Deng, David Yauyau and
Gatluak Gai have turned against the central government. Behind these
rebellions are both local discontent and the desire of some commanders
to ultimately return to the SPLA and secure a better position through
military pressure. The SPLA is said to have committed serious human
rights violations in suppressing this resistance. For its part, it
suspects the North Sudanese government of fomenting conflict and arming
anti-government militias in order to destabilize South Sudan.
In
the border areas of the Equatoria region, the population was subject to
occasional attacks by the Lord's Resistance Army from Uganda even after
the end of the war.
In the independence referendum, which was held in accordance with the
peace agreement from January 9 to 15, 2011, around 99% of South Sudanese
who voted were in favor of independence. The Sudanese head of state Umar
al-Bashir recognized this result. Independence was declared on July 9,
2011 after a transition period. Article 14 of the 2011 interim
constitution states that women and men are equal before the law. This
affirmed women's right to vote. Article 16 stipulates that at least 25%
of the legislature should be women. However, since customary law and
traditions are an essential source of law in South Sudan and are
predominantly patriarchal in nature, women are still discriminated
against.
During the transition period leading up to independence,
the institutions of the two parts of the country were gradually
separated. South Sudanese officials in the north and North Sudanese
officials in the south were transferred to their respective parts of the
country. In February, the North dismissed all Southern representatives
from the National Assembly. The Northern Embassy opened in Juba in
March. However, from May onwards the situation became more serious as
there was fighting in the Abyei area, with the army of the north taking
the city of Abyei. After mediation by South Africa, the conflicting
parties agreed on June 21, 2011 to establish a demilitarized zone in the
border region. The demilitarization is supported by the United Nations
Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).
On December 15, 2013, hostilities broke out within the SPLA between
supporters of South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit, who belongs
to the Dinka, and Nuer Vice President Riek Machar, who was dismissed by
Mayardit on July 23, 2013. What appears to be a tribal war in media
reporting turns out to be a struggle for political power and resources
from a cultural and social anthropological perspective. The government
spoke of an attempted coup by Machar, which he denied. Four former
ministers were arrested. Around 500 people were killed in the fighting
in Juba.
The fighting, during which more than 63,000 people
sought protection in UN camps, spread to other parts of the country.
SPLA spokesman Phillip Aguer announced on December 18, 2013 that the
army was fighting with troops of General Peter Gadet, who was close to
Machar, in the area around Bor, the capital of Jonglei state.[68] The
Bundeswehr announced on December 19, 2013 that it would evacuate German
citizens from Juba with a Transall assigned to the UN mission MINUSMA
and a Global 5000. Other countries also began evacuating from South
Sudan, with US CV-22 Ospreys being shot at as they approached Bor and
four soldiers injured. On December 19, the UN camp in Akobo was attacked
by around 2,000 Lou Nuer fighters, killing two Indian peacekeepers and
probably 20 Dinka. While the UN moved unneeded personnel from South
Sudan to Entebbe in Uganda, UN troops in Bentiu and Bor were to be
reinforced. The rebels captured parts of Unity, where much of South
Sudan's oil is produced, on December 22, 2013.
On December 24,
2013, the UN stated that a mass grave containing the remains of 75 SPLA
soldiers had been discovered in Bentiu, but this was again denied. On
the same day, the United Nations Security Council unanimously agreed to
send an additional 5,500 peacekeepers to South Sudan to strengthen the
UNMISS peacekeeping mission. Meanwhile, government troops regained
control of the city of Bor.
Under pressure from the African
Union, both parties to the conflict agreed to peace talks. Government
and rebel delegations met with mediators from the East African
association of states IGAD on January 3, 2014 in the Ethiopian capital
Addis Ababa. On January 23, 2014, both sides signed a ceasefire.
However, the Nuer continued their attacks. Another peace agreement was
signed on August 25, 2014.
In spring 2017, UN observers noted a
renewed escalation of the conflict. The government resettled members of
the Dinka ethnic group in villages from which Shilluk had previously
been expelled and cut off access to international aid.
On June
27, 2018, the conflict parties agreed to a ceasefire in Khartoum. On
September 12, 2018, they signed a peace agreement in Addis Ababa. He
paved the way for a government that Kiir and Machar formed in February
2020 after lengthy, violent negotiations. It is based on the
distribution of control across the country's regions.
South Sudan is a focus of German humanitarian aid: in 2020, Germany
provided around 70 million euros for humanitarian measures. The focus of
the support was emergency food aid and protection and hygiene measures
for internally displaced persons and refugees, both in South Sudan and
in neighboring countries. The aid also served to alleviate the
consequences of the locust plague and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since 2005, Germany has been participating in the UN mission UNMISS in
South Sudan (United Nations Mission in South Sudan) and the predecessor
mission UNMIS (United Nations Mission in Sudan). The mandate has been
extended several times, most recently the Bundestag decided on a
Bundeswehr deployment until March 31, 2024. The Bundeswehr participates
with individual personnel in UN staff and headquarters and sends
experts.
In the north, the country is characterized by savannas and dry forests, in the south by tropical rainforest. The highest peak is Kinyeti (3187 m) in the Imatong Mountains. The White Nile flows through the region and forms one of the largest swamp landscapes in the world with the Sudd, depending on the season. The Nile tributary Bahr al-Arab (Kiir) forms roughly the northwestern part of the border with Sudan. However, the border is not marked, and in addition to the Abyei area, there are other border regions with pasture land and mineral deposits whose nationality is unclear, such as the enclave of Kafia Kingi. In the extreme south-east lies the Ilemi Triangle, claimed by Kenya and Ethiopia and formerly also claimed by Sudan; the position of the South Sudanese government in this territorial dispute is still unknown.
High temperatures and a rainy season from April to October characterize the tropical, humid climate. During the dry season, temperatures rise to an average of 36 degrees Celsius during the day and well over 20 degrees Celsius at night. In the rainy season, temperatures are 30-33 degrees Celsius during the day and 21-23 degrees Celsius at night. The humidity is then 70-80%. The frequency and intensity of rainfall decreases from south to north.
South Sudan is only
determined by the hydrology of the Nile (without the Ilemi triangle).
The border with the Central African Republic is practically congruent
with the catchment area border with the Congo. This is also the region
with the most precipitation in the otherwise arid country. Evaporation
is so high that endorheic sinks such as the Ambadi, the Abu Shanab or
the Maleit Sea have formed between the Sudd and the swamps of the Bahr
al-Ghazal system.
There are three prominent hydrological
variables to mention:
The catchment area of the Bahr al-Ghazal, which
is the largest sub-basin of the Nile in terms of area, but contributes
only little water to the Nile due to the high level of evaporation.
The Sudd, which is one of the largest wetlands in the world.
The
tributary Sobat, which has its source in Ethiopia and contributes about
10 percent of the water volume of the Nile at its mouth.
According to the official results of the 2010 census for all of Sudan, South Sudan had a population of around 8.26 million and thus represented 22% of the population of all of Sudan at the time. The South Sudanese Legislative Assembly disputed the accuracy of these figures, instead assuming a population of 9-10 million. The World Bank estimates that South Sudan had a population of 11.2 million in 2020. The fertility rate in 2021 was just under 4.5 children per woman. The life expectancy of residents of South Sudan from birth was 58.1 years in 2020 (women: 59.6, men: 56.6). The median age of the population in 2020 was 19 years.
As is often the case in other African
countries, the average age in South Sudan is relatively low,
currently around 16.1 years.
The largest population group are
the Dinka, who belong to the Nilotes; there are also the Nuer and
Shilluk, who are also Nilotic, the Azande and a number of other
groups.
In 2021, 21 percent of South Sudanese residents lived
in cities.
The interim constitution of 2005
established English and Arabic as the government's working
languages. In addition, all native languages were recognized as
national languages and were allowed to be used as the working
language at lower administrative levels and as the language of
instruction in schools until 2011.
The new interim
constitution of 2011 after the state's independence stipulates
English as the sole official language, while Sudanese Arabic and
Juba Arabic are common as lingua francas. According to the new
transitional constitution, all native languages will continue to be
recognized as national languages.
Most languages in South
Sudan belong to the Nilo-Saharan language family. Of these, the East
Sudanic branch is represented in particular with the subgroup of the
Nilotic languages, with the most speakers being Dinka, Nuer, Bari
and Shilluk. The Central Sudanic branch is mainly represented in the
northwest, with a number of languages spoken by relatively small
ethnic groups (the so-called Fertit). In the southwestern part there
are also Ubangi languages of the Niger-Congo language family,
especially Azande.
In contrast to the mostly
Islamic Sudan, the population in South Sudan mainly professes
Christianity or local religions. Especially after the Sudanese
government expelled foreign missionaries from the country in 1964,
South Sudanese increasingly converted to Christianity. The majority
of Christians are Catholics and Anglicans. The Roman Catholic Church
Province of Juba, which encompasses the entire South Sudan, states
the number of around 3.12 million Catholics (around 38% of the total
population).
The majority of residents (76.8%) now belong to
Christian denominations, followers of African religions make up 21%
and Muslims 2.2%.
The illiteracy rate in South
Sudan was 65.5% in 2020, among the highest in the world. The
expected length of schooling for the current generation of students
is just 5.3 years, the lowest in the world. Primary education is
free in the public schools for South Sudanese citizens aged six to
thirteen.
Primary education is eight years, followed by four
years of secondary education and then four years of university
education. The primary language of instruction is English, in
contrast to the Republic of Sudan where the language of instruction
is Arabic. In 2007, South Sudan adopted English as its official
language. The country has 7 state and 5 private universities. (See:
List of Universities in South Sudan)
According to UNESCO, the
illiteracy rate of the population older than 15 years is over 70%.
On paper, South Sudan is “a moderately federal republic with a presidential system of government and a very strong president (particularly in the transition period). He heads the executive branch, which continues to consist of a vice president and the cabinet. The legislature consists of two chambers with a very strong first chamber, directly elected at the national level, and a weak second chamber (representation of the member states by representatives sent by the member state parliaments) (asymmetrical bicameralism). The member states have limited powers, the local administration is weak, despite a constitutional commitment to decentralized governance." However, South Sudan - also from the perspective of the UN peacekeeping mission - is now considered a failed state, which the USA, which helped to create it, also believes Failure to support.
After John Garang's death in 2005, Salva Kiir Mayardit took over the
leadership of the SPLM/A and thus became - as Garang had been since the
peace agreement in 2005 - President of the then autonomous region of
South Sudan and Vice President of Sudan. With South Sudan's independence
in 2011, Salva Kiir became the country's first and current president. He
is also head of government and commander in chief of the armed forces of
South Sudan.
The only national elections to date took place in
2010, before the country's independence. Since then they have been
postponed several times, giving rise to further conflict.
The South Sudanese parliament consists of two chambers that were
reconstituted as part of the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement:
the National Legislative Assembly (lower house) with 500 seats and the
Council of States (upper house) with 100 seats. Some of the members of
parliament were directly elected, taken over from the former
all-Sudanese parliamentary chambers or appointed by the president on the
basis of party lists.
It's not just opposition parties that
accuse the ruling Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) party of
monopolizing power, practicing nepotism and being largely corrupt.
On July 14, 2011, South Sudan became the 193rd member state to be
admitted to the United Nations. On July 27, 2011, the African Union
admitted South Sudan as its 54th member. The country became a member of
the East African Community in 2016.
Relations between South Sudan
and Sudan are considered tense. The exploitation of oil reserves
triggered conflicts with its northern neighbor just a few months after
South Sudan's independence. South Sudan accused Sudan of several
attacks. The United Nations called for an end to the violence in March
2012. At the beginning of August 2012, both states settled their
dispute, which was welcomed by the USA and the European Union. In the
wake of the domestic political unrest, negotiations took place with
Sudan, in which the formation of joint army units was proposed.
The armed conflict between units of President Salva Kiir and soldiers of former Vice President Riek Machar continued in South Sudan from December 2013 to 2015. Machar attempted a coup on December 16, 2013, but this was repelled by Kiir. Kiir then ordered a temporary curfew for the capital Juba. In January 2014, the regional organization of states in Northeast Africa, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), attempted to mediate between the conflicting parties, the government of South Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement troops in opposition. Despite numerous attempts to establish a ceasefire, fighting continued unhindered. The United Nations Security Council, at its 7,396th session on March 3, 2015, imposed sanctions in the form of travel bans and asset freezes, primarily on individuals accused of crimes under international law, through Resolution 2206 (2015), for human rights violations, but also for actions that threaten peace, stability and the security situation. The United Nations Children's Fund reported that child soldiers were used in the numerous conflicts in the country and, according to the findings of numerous human rights organizations, there were also cases of gang rape and sexual slavery. There are often reports that the government systematically restricts freedom of expression. Human Rights Watch documented that child marriage is widespread in South Sudan. Almost half of all South Sudanese girls aged 15 to 19 are married. The government is also accused of arbitrary arrests. A third of the prison population has not been convicted. Many are imprisoned for adultery or secret marriage. The prison cells are severely overcrowded and there is not enough food.
As a result of the decades-long wars of secession in South Sudan from
1955 to 1972 and from 1983 to 2005, the country had many military
factions that were integrated into the army of the state founded in
2011. The unity of the armed forces is, among other things, Endangered
by the ethnic conflict between Dinka and Nuer.
In 2012, South
Sudan was estimated to have 140,000 soldiers, 110 T-72 main battle tanks
and some T-54/T-55s. The army also has 69 guns (including 24 122mm 2S1
self-propelled guns), 15 BM-21 rocket launchers and more than 30 82mm
mortars. The air force only has one Beechcraft 1900 liaison aircraft and
nine Mil Mi-17 helicopters and one Mil Mi-172 of Russian origin.
As a result of the war, poverty and hunger are widespread among the
population. Agriculture, particularly livestock and millet cultivation,
has been affected and feeding refugees returning from neighboring
countries and other parts of the country is a problem.
South
Sudan is rich in mineral resources, particularly petroleum, but also
gold, diamonds, silver, iron ore, copper, chrome ore, zinc, tungsten,
mica and limestone. Even before its independence in 2011, the autonomous
government shared in the profits. A World Bank study concluded that
sharing the oil revenues that flowed to the autonomous government would
be enough to combat poverty and improve the living conditions of the
population. The autonomous government announced that it would primarily
use the income to develop agriculture and infrastructure. However, South
Sudan is still (as of 2020) heavily dependent on imports. The options
for storing and processing your own agricultural products are limited.
Corruption is considered a significant obstacle to development.
After independence, South Sudan has around 80 percent of the known
oil reserves of the whole of Sudan. However, the country does not have
its own access to the sea and therefore remains dependent on exporting
oil via Sudan for the time being. Disputes arose over the extent to
which the South should pay for the use of the pipelines or share the
revenue with the North. After Sudan diverted oil due to a lack of
agreement in order to collect the “fee”, South Sudan temporarily stopped
production in January 2012. Until then, 98 percent of the South Sudanese
state budget was financed by income from the oil business. On April 6,
2013, South Sudan restarted its oil production and export through the
pipelines in Sudan.
In March 2012, work began on a pipeline and
transport connections from South Sudan via Ethiopia to the Kenyan port
of Lamu, through which South Sudanese oil will be exported in the
future. At the beginning of August 2012, through mediation by the
African Union, the conflicting parties agreed on an agreement on transit
fees for the export of South Sudanese oil through Sudan. Despite the
agreement, the ongoing border disputes between the two countries remain
unresolved for the time being.
At the beginning of March 2013,
South Sudan and Ethiopia announced that they wanted to jointly build a
road from the oil fields in South Sudan through Ethiopia to Djibouti.
The crude oil is then transported by tanker trucks to Djibouti, from
where it can be loaded onto oil tankers and exported.
While
production in South Sudan was over 300,000 barrels per day before
independence and around 150,000 barrels per day in 2014, it was just
over 100,000 in 2017 due to the civil war. In addition, the viscous oil
from the Muglad region has to be heated during transport, which is
logistically impossible. About half of the proceeds go to Sudan as a
transit fee, and a large portion of the remaining funds go to Chinese
producers.
In 2009, the state budget included expenses of the equivalent of 1.8
billion US dollars, which was offset by income of the equivalent of 1.8
billion US dollars.
After the secession of South Sudan, the north
initially took over the entire national debt of the entire state; an
agreement on a possible division of the liabilities is still pending.
The infrastructure is sparse and in poor condition. For a long time,
the only traffic connection from the south to the north that could be
used all year round was the irregular shipping traffic on the White Nile
from Juba via Malakal to Kosti. The railway connection from the north to
Wau was fully reopened in 2010. Water supply is precarious even in the
capital and is largely provided by tankers; there is no public power
supply.
The plans to build a railway network in South Sudan and
connect it with the existing railway networks in Kenya and Uganda have
not been finalized by 2020.
Airports are located in Juba, Malakal
and Wau, and there are simple airstrips in many district towns.
The entire road network covered around 7,000 km in 2012. The road
network is being expanded, initially primarily for the transport of oil
by tanker trucks. The roads will run from the oil fields in the north of
the country to the Ethiopian border.