Country Profile:
Southern Sudan
Summary
The civil war between Northern and Southern Sudan is said to have claimed the lives of 1.5 million people and is the oldest civil war in the world. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) was signed on January 9, 2005. A new constitution giving autonomy to the south was adopted on July 9, 2005 and former SPLA rebel leader Dr. John Garang was sworn in as Vice President of the Sudan. Later that year a power-sharing Government was formed in Khartoum and an autonomous government was formed in the south.
Various SSR activities have been led by the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) and multiple donors, but “an absolute need for security exists.” On issues of cooperation, the governments of Sudan and Southern Sudan maintain formal relations, especially in the domain of DDR, which is largely facilitated by donors.
The relationship between the central government and GoSS remains characterized by mutual suspicion, and both sides have taken worrisome steps to rearm. Lingering territorial issues, including competing claims of sovereignty over the disputed territories of Southern Kordofan, Abyei and Blue Nile, threaten the peace process.
