SOUTH SUDAN | How Did It Win Independence?

Summary

The video script explores the complex journey of South Sudan's secession and independence, a rare success in modern international politics. It delves into the historical context, from the Ottoman Empire's control to British rule, and the ethnic and religious divides that set the stage for conflict. The script narrates the two Sudanese civil wars, the pivotal role of external support, and the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005. Highlighting the overwhelming 'yes' vote in the 2011 referendum, it marks South Sudan's swift UN membership. However, the script hints at a somber aftermath, with South Sudan descending into a failed state a decade after its hopeful independence.

Takeaways

• 🇸🇸 South Sudan gained independence on 9 July 2011, ending Africa's longest running civil war and becoming a rare example of successful secession in modern international politics.
• 📈 The independence of South Sudan was quickly recognized, joining the United Nations as the 193rd member just days after declaring independence.
• 🌍 Geographically, South Sudan is landlocked in East Africa, bordered by Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sudan.
• 👥 South Sudan has an estimated population of 11 million, with over 60 diverse ethnic groups, predominantly Dinka and Nuer, and a mix of Christian and local religious beliefs.
• 🏰 The region's history began with Ottoman-Egyptian control in the 19th century, followed by British rule and the establishment of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan.
• 🔄 Sudan was divided into predominantly Arab and Muslim northern provinces and sub-Saharan, increasingly Christian southern provinces, leading to tensions and conflicts.
• 🕊️ The Addis Ababa Agreement in 1972 attempted to resolve these tensions by granting the south autonomy and making English the official language, but failed to bring lasting peace.
• 🛑 The discovery of oil reserves and growing Islamic sentiment in the north intensified conflicts, leading to the unilateral abrogation of the Addis Ababa Agreement and the start of the Second Sudanese Civil War.
• ⚔️ The Second Civil War lasted 22 years, resulting in over 2 million deaths and significant financial strain on Sudan, influencing the eventual peace agreement.
• 📝 The Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005 ended the Second Civil War and included provisions for a referendum on South Sudan's independence, which overwhelmingly voted in favor of secession.
• 🏳️‍🌈 Despite the celebration of independence, South Sudan has faced significant challenges and is considered one of the world's newest failed states a decade later.

Q & A

When did South Sudan formally become independent?

South Sudan formally became independent on 9 July 2011.

What makes South Sudan's secession unique in modern international politics?

South Sudan's secession is unique as it is one of the very few examples of successful secession in modern international politics.

What was the outcome of South Sudan's independence movement?

The outcome of South Sudan's independence movement was its recognition as a sovereign state and becoming the 193rd member of the United Nations.

What geographical challenges does South Sudan face?

South Sudan is landlocked, surrounded by Ethiopia to the east, Kenya, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the south, the Central African Republic to the west, and Sudan to the north.

What is the estimated population of South Sudan and its ranking among UN member states?

The estimated population of South Sudan is around 11 million people, which puts it in 83rd place among the 193 UN member states.

How did the discovery of oil reserves impact the relationship between northern and southern Sudan?

The discovery of oil reserves along the border between northern and southern Sudan was a major source of contention and contributed to the tensions between the two regions.

What was the Addis Ababa Agreement and what did it entail?

The Addis Ababa Agreement was a peace deal mediated by the World Council of Churches in 1972 that granted the southern provinces of Sudan a unified autonomous region with its own legislature and executive, and designated English as the official language in the south.

What sparked the Second Sudanese Civil War?

The Second Sudanese Civil War was sparked when President Jafaar Nimeiry unilaterally abrogated the Addis Ababa Agreement and declared Sudan to be a unitary Islamic state under sharia law in September 1983.

What was the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and when was it signed?

The Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed on 9 January 2005 and brought the Second Civil War to an end. It included provisions for southern autonomy and a referendum for South Sudan to vote for secession after six years.

What was the outcome of the referendum held for South Sudan's independence?

The outcome of the referendum held from 9-15 January 2011 was overwhelmingly in favor of independence, with 98.83 percent of the 3.85 million votes cast supporting the creation of an independent state.

Why was South Sudan's independence a rare occurrence in modern international relations?

South Sudan's independence was a rare occurrence because it was one of the exceedingly rare examples of a successful secession in modern international relations, with most secessionist campaigns failing or achieving only partial recognition.

What challenges did South Sudan face a decade after its independence?

A decade after its independence, South Sudan has become the world's newest failed state, indicating ongoing political, economic, and social challenges.

Outlines

00:00

🏛️ South Sudan's Secession and Independence

The video script introduces the topic of South Sudan's secession and independence, highlighting the rarity of successful secession in modern international politics. It provides a brief overview of the historical context, including the end of the longest civil war in Africa and South Sudan's swift admission to the United Nations as the 193rd member state. The region's geographical and demographic details are outlined, including its landlocked position, neighboring countries, size, population, and ethnic diversity. The script sets the stage for a deeper dive into the historical events that led to South Sudan's independence, starting from the 19th-century Ottoman Empire's expansion and the establishment of Anglo-Egyptian rule, to the post-World War II decolonization and the tensions between the Arab Muslim north and the Christian and tribal south.

05:04

🛡️ The Path to South Sudan's Independence

This paragraph delves into the complex history of Sudan's civil wars and the events leading to South Sudan's eventual independence. It begins with the initial upper hand of the north during the first civil war, the unification of southern forces by the end of the 1960s, and their support from Israel due to geopolitical concerns. The Addis Ababa Agreement of 1972 is mentioned, which temporarily granted the south autonomy but failed to bring lasting change. The discovery of oil and increasing Islamic sentiment in the north led to the unilateral abrogation of the agreement by President Jafaar Nimeiry in 1983, sparking the Second Sudanese Civil War. The script details the formation and successes of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), the influence of external factors such as the fall of Ethiopia's government, and the eventual shift in favor of the south. The paragraph concludes with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005, the internationally monitored referendum for independence, and South Sudan's formal declaration of independence in 2011, recognized first by Sudan itself and then by the United Nations.

10:08

💔 The Bittersweet Outcome of South Sudan's Independence

The final paragraph reflects on the aftermath of South Sudan's independence. It acknowledges the initial willingness of southern leaders to remain part of an independent Sudan with a degree of autonomy. However, the failure to achieve this led to a full-scale civil war, which was temporarily resolved but later reignited due to the north's abrogation of autonomy. The paragraph discusses the factors that eventually led to a peace deal and South Sudan's independence, including fatigue, financial cost, external pressures, and recognition of the south's distinct identity. Despite the celebration of independence, the script ends on a somber note, hinting at South Sudan's current status as a failed state, a topic the speaker intends to explore in a future video.

Keywords

💡Secession

Secession refers to the act of withdrawing from an established political entity, such as a nation, union, or federation. In the context of the video, South Sudan's secession from Sudan represents a rare successful instance in modern international politics. The video discusses the challenges and the process that led to South Sudan's independence, highlighting the significance of secession in the narrative.

💡Civil War

A civil war is a violent conflict between opposing groups within the same country or nation. The video script describes how South Sudan's independence was preceded by one of Africa's longest civil wars, which lasted for decades and resulted in significant loss of life and resources. This civil war was a pivotal event leading to the eventual secession of South Sudan.

💡International Recognition

International recognition is the acknowledgment of a new state's sovereignty by other states and international organizations. The video mentions South Sudan's rapid recognition and acceptance into the United Nations as its 193rd member, illustrating the international community's acceptance of its new status as an independent nation.

💡Ethnic Diversity

Ethnic diversity refers to the variety of ethnic groups within a region or country. South Sudan is described as highly diverse, with over 60 different ethnic groups, including the Dinka and Nuer, which are the largest communities. This diversity played a role in the political and social dynamics that contributed to the conflict and the push for independence.

💡Colonial Rule

Colonial rule is the control and administration of a territory by an external power. The video script outlines how Sudan, including what would become South Sudan, was under colonial rule by the British and Egyptians. This historical context is crucial for understanding the origins of the cultural and political differences that led to the civil war and eventual secession.

💡Decolonisation

Decolonisation is the process by which a territory gains independence from colonial rule. The script discusses the post-World War II era when Sudan began debating its future, leading to its independence from British and Egyptian control. This period set the stage for the subsequent conflicts between the north and south of Sudan.

💡Autonomy

Autonomy refers to the self-governing authority of a region or group within a larger political entity. The video describes how southern leaders initially sought autonomy within a united Sudan, which was later granted under the Addis Ababa Agreement. However, the failure to respect this autonomy contributed to the ongoing conflict.

💡Oil Reserves

Oil reserves are natural deposits of petroleum, a valuable resource. The discovery of oil reserves along the border between northern and southern Sudan is highlighted in the script as a major source of contention, which intensified the conflict and the struggle for control over this valuable economic asset.

💡Sharia Law

Sharia law is a religious legal system derived from Islamic principles. The script mentions the declaration of Sudan as a unitary Islamic state under sharia law by President Jafaar Nimeiry, which was a significant factor that sparked the Second Sudanese Civil War and further complicated the relationship between the north and south.

💡Comprehensive Peace Agreement

A comprehensive peace agreement is a broad and detailed treaty aimed at ending conflict and establishing peace. The video describes the 2005 agreement between the Sudanese Government and the SPLA, which ended the Second Civil War and included provisions for a referendum on South Sudan's independence, leading to its eventual secession.

💡Failed State

A failed state is a nation that has lost its ability to govern and provide basic services to its people. The script ends on a note that South Sudan, despite gaining independence, has become the world's newest failed state, indicating the ongoing challenges and the complex aftermath of its secession.

Highlights

South Sudan formally became independent on 9 July 2011, ending one of Africa's longest running civil wars and becoming a rare example of successful secession.

The channel focuses on international relations, conflicts, and the origins of countries, with a theme of the difficulty faced by territories seeking independence.

Secessionist campaigns typically fail, with few achieving sovereignty and universal recognition by the international community.

South Sudan joined the United Nations shortly after declaring independence, becoming the 193rd member.

South Sudan's path to statehood was challenging, marked by Africa's longest civil war.

Geographically, South Sudan is landlocked and shares borders with Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sudan.

South Sudan is slightly larger than France and has a diverse population of around 11 million people.

The largest ethnic groups are the Dinka and Nuer, with the majority of the population being Christian or followers of local religions.

The history of South Sudan begins in the 19th century with the Ottoman Empire and Egyptian army's control, followed by British rule.

Sudan was divided into two distinct territories under British rule: Arab and Muslim north, and sub-Saharan African south with local religions and growing Christianity.

Debate over Sudan's future post-WWII led to independence, with southern leaders seeking autonomy under a federal structure.

Tensions between north and south escalated, leading to riots and the eventual independence of Sudan in 1956.

The north's political and cultural influence over the south sparked a southern insurgency, supported by Israel.

The Addis Ababa Agreement in 1972 granted the south autonomy and established English as the official language, but little change occurred.

Oil reserves and Islamic sentiment in the north were major contention points leading to the Second Sudanese Civil War in 1983.

The Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), led by John Garang, initially gained control of the south but faced setbacks with Ethiopia's political changes.

The Second Civil War lasted 22 years, resulting in over 2 million deaths and significant financial strain on Sudan.

US pressure and evangelical Christian support for the South led to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005, including a provision for a referendum on South Sudan's independence.

The 2011 referendum saw an overwhelming 98.83% of voters choose independence, leading to South Sudan's formal declaration of independence.

South Sudan's independence was quickly recognized by Sudan and it became a full UN member on 14 July 2011.

Despite being a rare successful secession, South Sudan has faced significant challenges and is considered a failed state a decade after independence.

Transcripts

On 9 July 2011, South Sudan  formally became independent.

In doing so, it not only ended one of the longest  running civil wars in Africa, it also became  

one of the very few examples of successful  secession in modern international politics.

So, how did it happen?

Hello and welcome. If you're new to the channel,  my name is James Ker-Lindsay and here I take an  

informed look at international relations,  conflicts and the origins of countries.

If there's one theme that I often discuss,  

it's the extreme difficulty faced  by territories seeking independence.

In most cases, a secessionist  campaign ultimately fails.

Sometimes, it'll be defeated militarily.

In other cases, the leaders will eventually  sue for peace and accept some form of autonomy,  

ranging from greater cultural rights to  a federal or even confederal arrangement.

Occasionally, a territory might achieve a halfway  house and become a de facto state - independent  

from the state it's broken away, from but largely  or wholly unrecognized on the international stage.

However, and very rarely, an independence  movement will succeed and become a sovereign  

state universally recognised by  the wider international community.

One of the most interesting examples  in recent decades was South Sudan.

Just days after it declared  independence, in July 2011,  

it joined the United Nations, becoming  the 193rd member of the organisation.

But its path towards statehood  was anything but easy.

In fact, it only managed to become a country at  the end of what was Africa's longest civil war.

South Sudan lies in East Africa.

Landlocked it's surrounded by Ethiopia to  its east; Kenya, Uganda and the Democratic  

Republic of Congo to its south; and the  Central African Republic to its west.

To its north lies Sudan.

At around 650,000 square  kilometres, or 250,000 square miles,  

it's very slightly larger than France and  is the 41st largest of the 193 UN members.

Its population is currently estimated to  be in the region of 11 million people,  

which puts it in 83rd place.

Highly diverse, with over 60 different groups,  the largest communities of the Dinka which  

represents around 35 percent of the population,  and the Nuer, representing around 15 percent.

Most of the population are Catholic or  Anglican Christian or follow local religions.

Although the region has a long and rich  history, the story really begins in the first  

half of the 19th century when the Ottoman  Empire, operating with an Egyptian army,  

pressed southwards establishing control  over what would become modern-day Sudan.

However, in 1881 an uprising saw  the territory eventually fall  

under the control of a local islamic  leader - Muhammad Ahmad, the Mahdi.

Fearing that the movement could spread north  into Egypt - thus putting at risk the newly  

built Suez Canal and destabilising Anglo-French  colonial holdings in North Africa and the Middle  

East - Britain sent in a well-armed force  and imposed control over the territory.

This led to joint Anglo-Egyptian rule over Sudan.

But while Egypt was formally  regarded as the sovereign power,  

by the end of the 1920s the territory  was effectively ruled by Britain.

Crucially though, Sudan was essentially two  

very different territories  under a single colonial roof.

While the six northern provinces, which accounted  for around three quarters of the population,  

were overwhelmingly Arab and Muslim, the three  

southern provinces were made up of various  sub-saharan tribes that followed local  

religions but had become increasingly  Christian through missionary activity.

Following the end of the Second World  War and the start of decolonisation,  

a debate emerged about Sudan's future.

In the north, opinion was divided  between those who wanted union with Egypt  

and those who wanted independence.

However, this changed after the overthrow of  the pro-unification Egyptian king in 1952.

The new military-led government in Cairo, which  espoused secular anti-colonial pan-Arabism,  

distanced itself from the  previous unification policy,  

thus clearing the way for Sudanese independence.

Although southern leaders agreed in  principle to a united and independent Sudan,  

they also wanted to make sure  that their voice would be heard.

In 1954, they called for extensive  autonomy under a federal structure;  

arguing that if this was not granted they  should be given the right of independence.

As Britain prepared to pull out,  tensions started to grow between  

the north and the south and in July  1955 riots broke out in the south.

Fearing the spread of fighting,  Britain hastened its departure.

On 1 January 1956, the Republic  of Sudan became independent,  

joining the UN around 11 months  later, in November that year.

In the years that followed, tensions increased as  

the north sought to exert its political  and cultural influence over the south.

As a result, a southern insurgency emerged.

At first, the north clearly had the upper hand.

However, by the end of the 1960s the disparate  southern forces started to come together.

More importantly, they began to receive  funding and military support from Israel,  

which was growing increasingly concerned about  

Sudan's growing relationship  with its then arch-foe, Egypt.

The conflict eventually came to an end  

in February 1972 when the World Council  of Churches mediated a peace deal.

Under the terms of the Addis Ababa  Agreement, the southern provinces  

would become a unified autonomous region  with its own legislature an executive.

It was also agreed that English,  

rather than Arabic, would be the  official language in the south.

While the agreement appeared to end  the conflict, in truth little changed.

The north still continued to dominate the south.

Meanwhile, other pressures began to emerge.

The discovery of oil reserves along the  border between northern and southern Sudan  

proved to be a major source of contention, as  did growing Islamic sentiment in the north.

In September 1983, the president of Sudan,  Jafaar Nimeiry, unilaterally abrogated the  

Addis Ababa Agreement and declared Sudan to  be a unitary Islamic state under sharia law.

This sparked what became known  as the Second Sudanese Civil War.

This time, the south was far better prepared.

The Sudan People's Liberation Army, the  SPLA - under the command of John Garang,  

a US-trained military officer with a PhD  in agricultural economics and supported by  

neighbouring Ethiopia - quickly took control  of most of the rural areas of the south.

Although these initial successes were  reversed following the fall of the  

Ethiopian government in 1991, which  saw the SPLA lose its key benefactor,  

by the end of the decade the tide has started  to turn once again in the south's favour.

By the turn of the millennium, the  sides were again tiring of fighting.

Over the course of the 22  years it eventually lasted,  

the Second Civil War cost the  lives of over 2 million people,  

either directly through fighting or  indirectly through several major famines.

It was also becoming an ever greater drain on  the north's financial resources and oil revenues.

Finally, the north which had been repeatedly  accused of harbouring Islamic terrorists  

was becoming increasingly worried that it  might now be the next target for the United  

States as it sought to challenge  islamic extremism following 9/11.

Such fears were also heightened  by the fact that the South's cause  

was increasingly supported  by US evangelical christians.

Between 2002 and 2004, and with active US support,  

intense negotiations were held between  the two sides in neighbouring Kenya.

On 9 January 2005, at a ceremony attended  by senior international officials,  

the Sudanese Government and the SPLA  signed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement,  

thereby bringing the Second Civil War to an end.

While putting in place southern autonomy, and  promoting the "attractiveness" of a united Sudan,  

the peace agreement also included a  provision for the people of South Sudan  

to hold an internationally monitored  referendum after six years to either  

confirm the arrangements put in place  under the plan or to vote for secession.

As agreed, the referendum was  held on the 9-15 January 2011.

On 7 February, the final results were announced.

Of the total 3.85 million votes cast -  a 98 percent turnout - an overwhelming  

98.83 percent voted for independent statehood.

On 9 July 2011, South Sudan  formally declared independence.

In a hugely symbolic step, the first country  to recognise that independence was Sudan.

Meanwhile, just five days later, it became  a full member of the United Nations,  

assuming its place as the organisation's  193rd member, on 14 July 2011.

When South Sudan became independent, in  2011, it became one of the exceedingly rare  

examples of a successful secession  in modern international relations.

Indeed - and leaving aside the cases of  Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia and the Soviet  

Union in the early 1990s, which many observers  classed as examples of state dissolution,  

rather than formal secession - the only  previous cases of formal successful secession  

were Eritrea, which joined the UN in 1993, and  then Bangladesh, which became a member in 1974.

In the example of South Sudan, the  case for independence was always clear.

Having been incorporated into the vast  Anglo-Egyptian territory of Sudan in the  

19th century, the southern regions  always stood apart from the north:  

ethnically, religiously and even administratively.

And yet, as is often the case,  at the time of independence there  

was an expectation that the colonial  boundaries would simply be retained,  

thereby keeping the south within a state  in which it would always be marginalised.

Despite this, there did appear to be a  willingness amongst southern leaders to  

accept its place within an independent Sudan,  if it had been granted a degree of autonomy.

It was only when it became  clear that this wouldn't happen,  

and that Britain packed up and fled the emerging  mess, that a full-scale civil war emerged.

And although this ended with  an agreement on autonomy,  

this was later abrogated and fighting resumed.

Ultimately, it was the combination of fatigue,  

cost, external pressure and a willingness to  acknowledge the separate nature of the South  

that eventually saw Sudan accept a peace deal  that paved the way for the South's independence.

And yet, for all the jubilation and celebration  that greeted the South's independence,  

there's a bitter end to this story.

A decade on, South Sudan has become  the world's newest failed state - a  

story I hope to return to in a future video.

I hope you found that interesting. If so,  here are some more videos that you might like.

Thanks so much for watching  and see you in the next video.