It is the world’s youngest nation and most recent member of the United Nations and the African Union; the Republic of South Sudan gained independence from Sudan on July 9, 2011. The historic and jubilant occasion brought an end to what was, until 2005, Africa’s longest civil war. The focus now lies on building the future. Infrastructure, banking, agriculture, forestry, industry, education, energy, tourism, mining and health sectors all require immediate attention. With US sanctions lifted, multinational companies are free to invest in South Sudan’s expanding oil industry; but how will South Sudan’s Vision 2040 plan bring about economic diversification and poverty reduction?

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Published in NEWSWEEK, May 7 2012.
Distributed also on-site at the 2012 World Economic Forum on Africa in ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA.

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