SUMMARY

The Republic of South Sudan refers to the autonomous region of southern Sudan, which was established in 2005 and existed until 9 July 2011, when it gained independence as South Sudan. In 2005, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed between the Government of Sudan and the SPLM/A, determined that the southern region of Sudan would be granted autonomy for six years before a referendum would decide its permanent status (see for more information Government of Sudan – SPLM/A). Consequently, the Republic of South Sudan existed for six years until the referendum in January 2011 enabled the region to gain its independence six months later. In addition, the CPA also established a power-sharing “Government of National Unity”, where political power was distributed between both the SPLM/A and the Government of Sudan. However, the territorial status of the resource-rich area of Abyei, located along the border of modern-day Sudan and South Sudan, was not settled within the CPA. The autonomous Republic of South Sudan claimed authority over Abyei but this was disputed by the Khartoum-based Government of Sudan regime. This resulted in several clashes breaking out between the two parties in 2011 (see Government of Sudan – Republic of South Sudan. The forces of the Republic of South Sudan were drawn from the troops of the SPLM/A, which reportedly had 194 000 troops in 2011. John Garang, the leader of SPLM/A and an ethnic Dinka, initially led the Republic of South Sudan as the First Vice-President of the Government of National Unity in 9 July. However, he was killed in a helicopter crash on 30 July 2005. Thereafter, Salva Kiir Mayardit, who was also an ethnic Dinka and a previous SPLM/A leader, took over the role and leadership of the Republic of South Sudan on 22 September 2005. He maintained this position until the region gained independence in 2011 and he became President of South Sudan.