Last year, when South Sudan’s government announced the cancellation of the war-ravaged country’s independence day celebration on July 9, it was clear that its 300 per cent inflation has become worrisome. Now the inflation has touched 800 per cent, worsened by the widespread food insecurity. According to World Food Programme, about 4.9 million people were expected to face famine between February and April, and by the end of July 2017, the number will touch 5.5 million.
South Sudan officially became independent of Sudan in 2011, after decades-long civil war with the ethnic Arabs in the north, with 99 per cent of voters having voted for independence in a referendum. The newest country is also one of the least developed nations.
After independence, President Salva Kiir and first Vice President Riek Machar, who were once allies, became rivals. Their conflict has further ravaged the country of 12 million. Fighting between factions aligned with Kiir and Machar has displaced more than 2 million people. According to the United Nations, as many as 50,000 people have been killed in the conflict. In 2016, the United Nations warned of potential genocide and ethnic cleansing in the country. South Sudan has been declared on the brink of famine twice in the past three years. But aid agencies say this time is different, because they cannot reach the affected areas.
