Little history of South Sudan
After decades of violent fighting, the people of South Sudan voted for independence in a referendum in January 2011. The referendum marked the end of a six-year peace process that began in 2005 with the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). The Republic of South Sudan became independent from Sudan on July 9, 2011. The United Nations Interim Security Force (UNISFA) was established in June 2011 to monitor and destroy the disputed border area of Abai between Sudan and South Sudan, as well as to facilitate Abai. Providing humanitarian assistance.
In December 2013, violence erupted among pro-government forces, with President Salva Kiir backed and anti-government rebel groups led by his former vice-president, Rick Machar, killing thousands. The Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD) – with the support of the African Union, the United Nations and the international community – mediated peace talks between the opposition parties to the Dispute Resolution (ARC) agreement, signed on 2nd. August 2015. The parties met in early January 2016 to push the agreement forward, and an interim government of national unity was formed, with President Kir returning to South Sudan as the first vice president, led by Rick Machar.
Fighting resumed in July 2016 after clashes between rival military factions. Rick Machar fled the country and with the support of Salva Kiir, Taban Deng Gui became the first vice president. A tough ceasefire is underway in Juba but fighting continues in various other regions. The development of intergovernmental authority, an East African bloc, has led bilateral as well as its high-level revitalization forum to encourage parties to find a lasting solution to the ongoing conflict through the process. On 5 August 2018, the parties to the conflict signed an agreement on development issues related to the administration and security system in Khartoum, Sudan. In September 2018, the main parties signed a renewed agreement to resolve the conflict in South Sudan, which was extended until November 2019.
Australia served as a permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2013 and 2014 to address the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan. These include supporting the revised mandate of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and prioritizing the protection of civilians, humanitarian assistance and human rights monitoring.
The humanitarian situation in South Sudan is dire. There are about four million people seeking asylum in internally displaced or neighboring countries (Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan and Uganda). The United Nations estimates that about half of the population faces food insecurity and needs humanitarian assistance. Australia has contributed about ৩ 113 million in humanitarian assistance since the conflict began in December 2013, up from more than $ 80 million in 2013. Australia South Sudan is made up of members of the Australian Defense Forces who have been deployed to UNMISS since its inception in 2011. In 2017 and 2018, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade worked intensively on peace talks with South Sudanese expatriates in Australia.
South Sudan has significant potential oil resources, including large oil fields in the Upper Nile and Ityakya provinces.
People in Australia and South Sudan have strong people-to-people contacts, including a large South Sudanese expatriate in Australia.