South Sudan
By: Christian Meyer, Nelson Rhea, and Stephen Bavousett
Opening Statement
Where is it in Africa?
sub-saharan Eastern Africa near the horn of Africa
Role of Women?
the role of women is to mostly care for the children. This includes gathering food and water.
Role of Children?
Since most children do not go to school, many children just help their mothers by gathering water.
Geography
Health
Recent History
Racial and Religious diversity:
When the British governed Sudan as a colony they administered the northern and southern provinces separately. The south was held to be more similar to the other east-African colonies — Kenya, Tanganyika, and Uganda — while northern Sudan was more similar to Arabic-speaking Egypt. Northern Arabs were prevented from holding positions of power in the Catholic-dominated south, and trade was discouraged between the two areas.
When the British moved towards granting Sudan independence, they failed to consider the south’s needs. Southern Sudanese leaders weren't even invited to negotiations during the transitional period in the 1950's. In the post-colonial government of 1953, the Sudanization Committee only included 6 southern leaders,out of the some 800 available senior administrative positions.
Resource Distribution:
Oil revenues make up about 70% of Sudan (and southern Sudan’s) export earnings. Due to numerous tributaries of the Nile river and heavier precipitation in southern Sudan, the south also has greater access to water, and is therefore much more fertile. The north of the country is on the edge of the Sahara desert. The northern desire to control these resources in 2004 to present, and the southern desire to maintain control of the resources where they live, contributed to the war. A parallel war between the Nuer and Dinka also raged in the south.