South Sudan: Difficult Times Before and After Independence Lesson I South Sudan: Difficult Times Before and After Independence

A long history… The Republic of South Sudan was formed in 2011 Previously, what’s now South Sudan was called southern Sudan, part of the Republic of Sudan How did one country become two? 1800s– Great Britain and the Egyptian empire conquered the area and ruled it under the name “Anglo-Egyptian Sudan” The British centralized power in Khartoum, the capital of northern Sudan, and did little to develop or support Southern Sudan

A long history (cont)… 1950s—British and Egyptians end colonization of northern and southern Sudan and declare the two regions will become one independent county. 1955—Leaders in southern Sudan rebel against the government in Khartoum 1955-1973—First Sudanese Civil War 1983—President of Sudan declares Islamic Law and southern Sudan rebels again 1983-2005—Second Sudanese Civil War

The generation that fled… During second civil war (1983-2005), nearly 30,000 young boys from southern Sudan were orphaned or displaced when villages were attacked They walked 1,000 miles across Sudan to: First to a refugee camp in Ethiopia Then back to southern Sudan after they were forced out of Ethiopia Then to Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya Almost half died on this journey The survivors became known as the “Lost Boys of Sudan” They are among the 2 million people who died and the 4 million who were displaced from southern Sudan during the war

Invited to the U.S.… 2001—Almost 4,000 Lost Boys selected to come to the U.S. as refugees They had to learn for the first time about… Electricity Running water Driving a car Managing money and having a job And a host of other challenges But they were able to… Become U.S. citizens Receive a college education Earn money to support family still struggling in South Sudan

New country born.… 2005—Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed between northern and southern Sudan ends the second civil war 2005-2011—Many Lost Boys returned home for the first time in 20 years. They found… Whole villages of children and adults who couldn’t read Long lines of people waiting for healthcare Women and children who walked 3 miles a day to collect water Jan 2011- Southern Sudanese vote “yes” for independence in a referendum July 9, 2011—South Sudan becomes the newest country in the world

New challenges and project pioneers emerge.… Because of years of war, South Sudan is one of the least developed countries in terms of economy, infrastructure, government and judicial systems 60% of people lack clean drinking water Less than 15% of people have access to proper sanitation facilities 90% of adult women cannot read or write In some counties just 2% of girls and 1% of boys graduate from primary school Many former Lost Boys now lead projects to rebuild South Sudan. One example is the Raising South Sudan school-building project