Political Stability and Economic Development in the New Nation of South Sudan

Book excerpt: The newly born, one year old State of Southern Sudan faces multiple challenges, economic, administrative, ethnic and most of all, civil conflicts with its previous mother country, Sudan. Building a state is an arduous mission and building a nation comprised of many ethnicities is the most difficult. Moreover, we should not neglect the fact that there are no real economic productive sectors in Southern Sudan or sources of national income except for oil revenues. Additionally, Southern Sudan is food dependent of supplies from abroad and that almost 40% of its population relies on foreign aid. However, all the above-mentioned essential task are limited faced with necessary adhesive bonds which start with building services, legal and civil structures and good governance. All these are determined by available economic resources that are currently minimum with the shutdown of oil flow through oil pipes that runs in the territories of a hostile Northern Sudan. Agreements and coordination are necessary to start building the nation and reaching solutions for Borders's conflicts are part of it. The advanced theoretical framework is outlined in the current paper; however, it is also impotent to point at the necessity to be run by good governance that combines national consensus. Swot analysis outlines the principle factors for economic development and good governance. Conclusions are reached however, with an emphasis that external help is inevitable and necessary.