South Sudan: Political System
The people of the south of Sudan voted from January 9 to January 15, 2011 in a referendum on its independence. Until then, South Sudan was part of Sudan. In the vote, around 99% voted for independence, with a turnout of around 90%. The new state’s declaration of independence was read out on July 9, 2011, but the country’s name had already been determined on February 14, 2011. See AbbreviationFinder for more information about South Sudan politics, and acronyms as well. The official name of the country is:
| Republic of South Sudan (RoSS) (German: Republic of South Sudan) |
The Republic of South Sudan is run as a presidential system of government, headed by the President.
According to CANCERMATTERS.NET, the constitution restricts the power of the president through a parliament, which acts as a legislative assembly with 171 seats. These seats will be allocated under the terms of the 2005 Peace Treaty.
On July 14, 2011, South Sudan became the 193rd member state of the United Nations. On July 27, 2011, the new state became the 54th member of the African Union.
National anthem
The national anthem of South Sudan is called South Sudan Oyee! (English South Sudan Hurray!). Even before South Sudan’s declaration of independence, an eight-member committee was convened by the government to organize a competition and thus get suggestions for the text of an anthem. From the almost 50 submissions, ten texts were selected in September 2010, which could best serve a future national anthem. From the 10 variants, two hymns were finally composed. One of these was then selected by the SPLM Politburo as the anthem of the Republic of South Sudan.
The already widespread anthem underwent a few modifications in February 2011 by using the state name South Sudan, which has now been established.
The music for the South Sudanese anthem is also due to a competition won by students and teachers at Juba University, including music teacher Addison Arkangelo. Happy music was deliberately composed for the national anthem. This also wanted to stand out from the Sudanese national anthem.
| In the original English text | In the English translation |
| Oh GodWe praise and glorify you
For your grace on South Sudan, Land of great abundance Uphold us united in peace and harmony.Oh motherland We rise raising flag with the guiding star And sing songs of freedom with joy, For justice, liberty and prosperity Shall forever more reign. Oh great patriots Let us stand up in silence and respect, Saluting our martyrs whose blood Cemented our national foundation, We vow to protect our nation Oh god bless South Sudan. |
Oh God,we praise and praise you
for your grace towards South Sudan, land of great abundance keep us united in peace and harmony.Oh motherland! We rise, raise the flag with the leading star and sing freedom songs with joy Justice, freedom and prosperity should rule forever. Oh great patriots, let us rise in silence and respect, cheers to our martyrs whose blood cemented the foundation of our nation, we swear to protect our nation. Oh god, bless South Sudan. |
National flag
The national flag (country flag) of South Sudan was formerly the flag of the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and became the flag of the Autonomous Region of South Sudan in 2005. With independence on July 9, 2011, it became the flag of the country. Based on flag descriptions by Countryaah.com, the colors of the flag are interpreted as follows:
– Black symbolizes the people of Africa
– White stands for the peace that cost many people
– Red for the blood of the honorable freedom and justice fighters who lost their lives in the many years of conflict
– Green symbolizes the country’s agriculture and vegetation
– Blue symbolizes the Nile, the main source of life, not only for South Sudan, but also for the north as far as Egypt
– The star stands for the unity of South Sudan.
- Check top-mba-universities for public holidays, sports events, UNESCO world heritage sites and major places to visit in South Sudan.
South Sudan: Known People
Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon (born 1952)
After serving as warlord in the Civil War in South Sudan, Dhurgon became Vice President of the Autonomous Region of South Sudan, now the Republic of South Sudan, in 2005. The Presbyterian belongs to the Dok-Nuer people and was the 26th son of a tribal leader.
John Garang de Mabior (1945-2005)
The famous South Sudanese politician and rebel leader was one of the founders of the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), with which he fought for the independence of South Sudan for 20 years. Garang died in a helicopter crash in 2005. He was buried in a mausoleum near All Saints Cathedral in Juba, the capital of the Republic of South Sudan.
Salva Kiir Mayardit (born 1951)
The rebel leader and politician, who was born in Gharb Bahr al-Ghazal in southern Sudan, has been President of the then semi-autonomous region of South Sudan since the death of John Garang, which also made him Vice President of Sudan. In 2010 he was re-elected as President of South Sudan with a grandiose majority and has headed the now sovereign state of South Sudan since 2011.
Mende Nazer (born approx. 1980)
Mende Nazer comes from the Nuba people, was robbed by Arab slave traders as a child and, after her escape, wrote her autobiography, “Sklavin”, which became a bestseller. In 2002 Mende Nazer received the International Human Rights Award. (Geographically speaking, the Nuba Mountains are in Northern Sudan – ethnically and culturally, however, they belong to South Sudan.)
South Sudan: animals
Mammals
Not least because of the cruel civil war, you can still find numerous animals in South Sudan. The reason is that many people had fled from numerous regions and the animals there were able to spread well without the people. Animals are particularly numerous in the six national parks and twelve game reserves. The animals with a link are described in detail and illustrated at Goruma:
African elephants
Antelopes
Among these, the lyre or crescent antelope (Damaliscus lunatus) in the hartebeest group is particularly worth mentioning. The species inhabits almost all savannah areas south of the Sahara, but is increasingly limited to the protected areas. These animals reach a head-trunk length of about 170 cm – with a weight up to about 110 kg. Their gestation period is around 238 days
Defassa waterbuck
The Defassa waterbuck (Kobus defassa) are an antelope species in the genus of waterbuck. The animals reach a head-trunk length between 180 to 240 cm.
The fur is coarse and shaggy and has a reddish-gray basic color, although it can be gray or more reddish depending on the individual.
Ducker
Ducker (Cephalophini) are rather small antelopes from the family of the horned bearers (Bividae) native to Africa. The different species reach a head-trunk length between 60 to 160 cm with a shoulder height between only 40 to 80 cm. The color depends on the species, but often the upper side of the back is colored brown while the underside is lighter. The zebra suckers, which have a striped pattern reminiscent of a zebra, have a special color. Some species are yellowish or reddish in color. The nocturnal animals are mostly found in the tropical forests of the continent.
Hippos
The local hippos are found particularly in the Nile region of the country.
Giraffes
Hyenas
Leopards
Lions
Nile buffalo, water buffalo
The Nile buffalo (Cyncerus caffer aequinoctialis) are a subspecies of the Cape buffalo.
Warthogs
Waterbuck
The genus of waterbuck includes the white-eared bog antelope (Kobus leucotis), which is relatively widespread here – also known as the white-eared kob – it belongs to the subfamily of the Antilopinae in the horned family
Reptiles
The reptiles with a link are described in detail at Goruma:
African house snake
The African house snake (Boaedon fuliginosus) – also known as the brown house snake – is a non-poisonous snake with an average length of 95 cm.
Christy’s water cobra
Christy’s water cobra (Naja christyi) is also known as the Congolese water cobra. The snake reaches an average length of about 1.50 m (with the tail) – rarely more.
They can be found in or near bodies of water, in bushy or wooded lowland areas along lakes, rivers and streams.
Rock python
Black-tailed tree snake
The black-tailed tree snake (Dipsadoboa weileri) is a non-poisonous snake between 70 and 95 cm long
Gaboon viper
Nubian spitting cobra
Red spitting cobra
Black-tailed tree snake
The black-tailed tree snake (Dipsadoboa weileri) is a non-poisonous snake between 70 and 95 cm long
Desert horned viper
Forest boaedon
The forest boaedon (Boaedon perisilvestris) is a non-poisonous snake up to about 90 cm long.
The snake’s habitats are forests and their surroundings.
Nile crocodile
some birds
Shoebill
The shoebill got its name because its beak has the shape of a shoe and is about 23 cm long and 10 cm wide. The bird can grow up to about four feet. The bird is most common in the south of South Sudan, as well as in Tanzania and Zambia. It prefers wetlands as a habitat, where it feeds on fish, including the African lungfish and tilapia.
Sea spotted eagle
The sea spotted eagle is the heraldic animal of South Sudan. In front of the bird in the coat of arms there is a shield, a spear and a shovel. Other birds that live here or spend the winter are:
• African kestrels
• Bateleur Eagle
• Geier
• Hagedasch
• Malachite sunbirds
• Hungry
• Ochs Picker
• Saddle Storks
• giant bustards
• White Pelicans
• ostriches
• weaver birds
South Sudan: plants
General
The landscape of Sudan extends from the large savannahs in the north and the center of the country to the south, where it merges into the East African mountain forests, especially at the borders with Uganda and Kenya
Sudd
The most fertile area in South Sudan is the approximately 55,000 km² – during the rainy season more than 100,000 km² – large Sudd. The region is a marshland stretching along the White Nile Nile. The region is regularly flooded with water from Uganda and is therefore very fertile, which has led to the growth of many plants. These include, for example, a wide variety of marsh plants such as papyrus, reeds, hyacinths. There are also remnants of tropical rainforests with mahogany trees and other precious woods.
Nimule National
Park Acacias (eg Acacia sieberiana), desert dates and combretum as well as various species of figs grow in the Nimule National Park. The Ethiopian Palmyra palm can also be found here.
Imatong Mountains
In the plain and up to a height of about 1,000 m in the Imatong Mountains, umbrella acacia species (eg Acacia abyssinica, Acacia albia and Acacia seyal) are predominant. Tamarind trees, myrobalans and in the forest areas of Khaya also grow here. At altitudes between about 1,000 and 2,900 m you will find mainly mountain forests made of stone slices as well as croton and macaranga (euphorbia). Koso thickets and heather grow at even higher altitudes.
