The Birth of the Republic of South Sudan
The U.S. Institute of Peace is marking South Sudan’s independence with a half-day conference highlighting views from the ground and the U.S. policy community toward the new country.
Read the event coverage, U.S. Calls on Sudan to Halt Violence, Keep Its Promises
On July 9, 2011 the world bore witness to a historic moment: the birth of the Republic of South Sudan. While citizens across South Sudan will be celebrating their long sought after independence, the new country must deal with a considerable set of obstacles to nation-building. From providing basic services to its citizens, to drafting a new constitution, to maintaining security amid internal and external threats, the new government of South Sudan faces challenges ahead.
The U.S. Institute of Peace marked South Sudan’s independence with a half-day conference highlighting views from the ground and the U.S. policy community toward the new country. Focusing on what secession means for the people of South Sudan, the opening panel featured Traci Cook of the National Democratic Institute, who unveiled new focus group findings on citizen expectations post-independence. She was joined by John Prendergast of the Enough Project, who had just returned from the celebrations in the South, and Jok Madut Jok via video-conference from Juba, where he is currently serving as undersecretary in the government of South Sudan's Ministry of Culture and Heritage. The conference concluded with a keynote address by Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson, also just back from the independence celebrations, on how the U.S. and international community can best contribute to peace and development in the region.
Agenda
Panel: The Way Forward for the new Republic of South Sudan
- Traci Cook
Resident Director for Southern Sudan
National Democratic Institute (NDI) - Jok Madut Jok
Jennings Randolph Senior Fellow
U.S. Institute of Peace - John Prendergast
Co-Founder
The Enough Project - Jon Temin, moderator
Director, Sudan Programs
U.S. Institute of Peace
Keynote Address: U.S. Engagement with the Republic of South Sudan
- Amb. Johnnie Carson
Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs
U.S. Department of State - David Smock, moderator
Senior Vice President
U.S. Institute of Peace
Explore Further
- Read the keynote address
- Read the News Feature about the event
- Countries and Regions: The Two Sudans
Related Academy Courses
- Rule of Law Practitioners Course
- Land, Property, and Conflict
- Social Reconstruction and Human Security
