The Crisis in South Sudan

Throughout the history of the country, before and after gaining its independence in 2011, South Sudan has been in desperate need of humanitarian aid and foreign intervention. Currently, widespread hunger, corruption, and a collapsing peace agreement are pushing millions of people into crisis.  

Reuters, 2023

Food Insecurity

According to the World Food Program (WFP), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and UNICEF, over 57% of South Sudan's population is facing acute food insecurity. In the Upper Nile state of the country, the majority of its counties are in the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification 4 (IPC Phase 4), meaning that acute food insecurity has reached an emergency level, with households in South Sudan experiencing acute malnutrition and significant gaps in their food consumption, leading to death. 

Currently, an estimated 32,000 people in the country are in IPC Phase 5. IPC Phase 5 is considered the most severe, indicating that 20% or more of the population is experiencing extreme levels of malnutrition due to this food insecurity, which can lead to widespread starvation and extreme spikes in a country's mortality rate. 

Before South Sudan gained independence and after, they have experienced severe spikes in mortality rate. While the graph below only represents child mortality, the spikes help paint a picture of the situation for the entire country's population. 

Our World in Data

The graph above displays the child mortality rates from 1950 to 2023. From the significant spikes in the graph, we can see the history of famine and war that has consumed the country. The graph shows a spike in South Sudan's child mortality rate in 1988. At that time, South Sudan, then still part of Sudan, was facing a famine, resulting in a significant rise in deaths. The Second Sudanese civil war, which lasted 22 years, also contributed to the spikes seen in the graph. Currently, South Sudan is nearing another civil conflict due to tensions between the President and Vice President and the collapse of the 2018 peace agreement earlier this year.

South Sudan has a history of instability. As of 2025, it ranks as the second most food insecure country in the world, making it one of the hungriest nations globally. 

Corruption

Last year, the Corruption Perception Index ranked South Sudan eighth on the corruption scale, with zero being the most corrupt a country can be and 100 a country free of corruption. The scale compares 180 different countries. Out of the 180 countries, South Sudan Ranks 180th.

The corruption in South Sudan is worsening as time passes. Currently, leaders in the country are diverting resources meant to aid the hungry and sick population and using them for other projects. The  United Nations Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan (UNCHRSS) released a report this month that estimated that $1.7 billion that was meant for the “Oil for Roads” program was given to companies connected to leaders of the country, instead of being used to fund new infrastructure.

Caitlin Kelly, 2025

Since September 2025, the crisis in South Sudan has shown no sign of slowing down. Due to the diversion of materials and lack of humanitarian aid, conflict and hunger continue to worsen, leaving millions of the population trapped in a deteriorating humanitarian emergency.