1. SS7CG2b
Explain how political, economic, and social conflicts resulted in the independence of South Sudan.
Some information provided from:

2. Political reasons for South Sudan
British colonial rule resulted in the North being modernized while the South was neglected.
Upon getting independence, South was suspicious of the North since the government was set up there.
Promises to create a federal system were soon broken, leading to a series of civil wars.

3. Economic reasons for South Sudan
The valuable resource of oil (98% of current South Sudan’s economy) is located in the south.
Control of shipping oil is in the North. Oil revenues were being spent mainly in/on the north.
More valuable farmland is located in the south.
Control of valuable food was used as a weapon during periods of severe famine. Over 250,000 deaths estimated from one famine period alone.

4. Social reasons for South Sudan
Some causes of past conflict include the ethnic and religious differences between the Arab, Muslim north and the Christian and Animist south.
The start of Sharia Law for all of Sudan in 1983 created problems and the creation of rebel groups in the south.
The newly “elected” leader in 1986 gave armed militias free reign in the south.
Current leader/dictator Omar al-Bashir made matters even worse in the south.