Overview
South Sudan is the world's youngest nation and home to more than 12 million people.
Sudan has been locked in conflict since 1955. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005 marked the beginning of a long road to South Sudan's independence from Sudan.
Independence came in 2011, signaling the end of Africa's longest-running civil war. However, in 2013, South Sudan erupted into civil war again, characterised by violence against civilians. This has driven 3.9 million people from their homes and put more than 6 million people in emergency or crisis levels of food insecurity.
2017 saw a further decline with ongoing fighting and economic collapse, as food prices spiked and hunger became more severe. Humanitarian access has also become increasingly limited by the violence.