South Sudan’s road to sovereignty is one of the most painful and costly struggles in modern history. From the outbreak of the first Anyanya war in 1955, through the long decades of civil conflict, to the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005, the journey to independence was marked by immense sacrifice. Thousands of people lost their lives, families were displaced, properties were destroyed, and entire generations were left scarred. Every household in South Sudan has a story of a loss of a father, mother, son, or daughter taken by war. Independence, when it finally came on July 9, 2011, was celebrated with tears of joy and pride. Yet, for many, the dream of freedom soon turned into a nightmare.
The tragedy is that South Sudan has not fully realized the purpose of the liberation for which so many lives were lost. Instead of peace and prosperity, the years after independence have been dominated by mistrust, greed, and internal strife. This reality has planted deep fears and worries among citizens about the future of their nation.
To understand these fears, one must recall the phases of South Sudan’s wars. The first Anyanya war (1955–1972) erupted even before Sudan gained independence from Anglo-Egyptian rule, fueled by southern grievances against Khartoum’s marginalization. It ended with the Addis Ababa Agreement of 1972, which granted limited autonomy but failed to resolve deeper issues.
The second civil war (1983–2005) was far deadlier, led by the Sudan People’s Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M) under Dr. John Garang. It was during this phase that South Sudanese communities suffered unimaginable destruction. Millions died, countless were displaced, and famine was used as a weapon of war. This war eventually produced the CPA in 2005, signed in Nairobi by the SPLM/A and the Government of Sudan, granting South Sudan autonomy and paving the way for the 2011 referendum.
Independence was supposed to mark the end of suffering. Instead, internal conflict erupted again in December 2013, just two years after sovereignty was achieved. Political rivalries between President Salva Kiir and his then Vice President Riek Machar spiraled into ethnic violence, displacing millions. A fragile peace was attempted through multiple agreements, the 2015 Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS), the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), and numerous ceasefires, yet each has largely failed to end hostilities or address root causes. The persistence of violence after independence has left citizens questioning the very meaning of their struggle. They wonder whether the sacrifices of martyrs made were in vain and whether the dream of liberation has been betrayed.
Since independence, South Sudan has experienced repeated cycles of fighting, displacement, and broken promises. The leadership, instead of uniting to consolidate peace, has often been divided by competition for power, wealth, and control of state resources. Citizens see leaders prioritizing political positions while the population suffers hunger, displacement, and insecurity.
In addition, this failure of leadership has weakened trust in government institutions. Many South Sudanese live in constant fear, uncertain whether peace will last or violence will erupt again. Tribal divisions have deepened, with employment and opportunities often allocated along ethnic lines rather than merit. This fuels resentment and widens mistrust among communities. Citizens worry that such divisions threaten the very survival of the nation.
Moreso, the economy of South Sudan remains fragile and heavily dependent on oil revenues. Corruption, mismanagement, and conflict have crippled economic growth. The country imports nearly all its goods, from food to basic commodities, making it vulnerable to inflation and foreign dependency. Citizens consume products of questionable quality without knowing their sources, raising concerns about health and safety.
Meanwhile, unemployment is staggering, particularly among the youth, who make up nearly 70 percent of the population. With little hope for jobs or education, many young people turn to drugs, crime, and violence. Urban centers are plagued by gangs and deviant groups, while rural areas suffer from cattle raids, revenge killings, and inter-communal clashes. Without productive youth, South Sudan risks becoming a nation with no future.
Mental health is another silent crisis. Generations traumatized by war are left untreated. Widows, orphans, and displaced persons struggle with deep psychological wounds, yet psychosocial support remains almost nonexistent. The lack of healing fuels cycles of violence and hopelessness.
Since 2013, South Sudanese citizens have watched their leaders sign agreement after agreement, yet little has changed on the ground. The 2015 ARCSS collapsed in 2016 when fighting broke out again in Juba. The 2018 R-ARCSS raised hopes of unity, with provisions for power sharing, security arrangements, and reforms, but its implementation has been painfully slow and inconsistent. Other ceasefire deals and political pacts have ended in violations and mistrust.
Each broken agreement erodes public faith in peace processes. Citizens fear that South Sudan may become a permanent hotspot of conflict, locked in a cycle of negotiations without real progress. The worry is not only about today but about the generations to come, whether their children will ever know peace or whether they will inherit a legacy of endless wars.
Despite these fears, hope is not entirely lost. South Sudan is still a young nation, and its future depends on choices made today. Leaders must rise above personal and tribal interests to prioritize national unity, justice, and accountability. Citizens must cultivate nationalism, patriotism, and solidarity beyond tribal lines. True liberation will only be achieved when South Sudanese recognize themselves not just as Dinka, Nuer, Bari, or Zande, but as one people bound by a shared destiny.
To secure its future, South Sudan must, Invest in youth through education, skills, and employment to transform them from liabilities into drivers of development, Diversify the economy to reduce dependence on oil and imports, encouraging agriculture and local production, Strengthen peacebuilding by implementing agreements sincerely, reforming institutions, and delivering justice for past atrocities, Promote national healing through reconciliation, mental health support, and community-based peace initiatives, Empower women who continue to carry the heaviest burden of survival and resilience.
In conclusion, the fears and worries of South Sudan’s future are real and urgent. A nation born from sacrifice risks collapsing under the weight of its own divisions, conflicts, and failures of leadership. If current trends persist, South Sudan may lose its vision of liberation and sovereignty altogether. But if its leaders and citizens awaken to their responsibility, embrace unity, and commit to transformation, the nation still has a chance to rise.
South Sudan’s future lies not in endless agreements signed and broken, but in building a collective conscience anchored in peace, justice, and shared progress. Without this, the dream of independence will remain unfulfilled, and the sacrifices of past generations will have been in vain.
The writer, Mogga Loyo, is a social researcher and peace advocate. He can be reached via mogtomloyo@yahoo.co.uk.
The views expressed in ‘opinion’ articles published by Radio Tamazuj are solely those of the writer. The veracity of any claims made is the responsibility of the author, not Radio Tamazuj.