South Sudan: Blogging the Newest Country in the World

South Sudan declared its independence on 9 July 2011 to become the world's newest country.

South Sudan held a referendum on January 9, 2011, on whether or not it should remain a part of Sudan as part of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Khartoum central government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement.

Below is a list of blogs with regular reports, analyses and opinions relating to South Sudan. They cover a variety of subjects such as politics, language, health, humanitarian work and gender.

1. African Arguments: Making Sense of Sudan:

Making Sense of Sudan [and South Sudan] is the leading site for critical online debate and discussion about Sudan. Started by Alex de Waal in 2007, MSS has become an institution for those wishing to understand the country and the many issues raised by its politics, humanitarian crises and international engagement. Including cutting edge debate, book reviews and commentaries on current issues, the blog seeks to place Sudan in a wider context, and to highlight many of the internationally important issues identifiable by seasoned observer and occasional watcher alike.

Children at South Sudan independence celebrations. Photo courtesy of Matata Safi.

2. PaanLuel Wël: A South Sudanese blogger and a newspaper columnist based in Washington DC, USA.

A blog by South Sudanese bloggers for, and about, South Sudan

3. Sudan Reeves:

Eric Reeves is Professor of English Language and Literature at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. He has spent the past thirteen years working full-time as a Sudan researcher and analyst, publishing extensively both in the US and internationally.

He is also at work on a longer-range project surveying the international response to ongoing war and human destruction over the past 25 years (“Sudan – Suffering a Long Way Off”). The project will survey not only the history of Darfur, and the world's failure to halt the first genocide of the 21st century, but the substitution — for over two decades — of humanitarian aid for diplomatic resolve to end conflict in South Sudan and the transitional areas along the North/South border.

4. David Majok:

This is David Majok. My blog will be totally devoted to the cause of peace and advancing new thinking in the political discourse in South Sudan. This blog will attempt to look at political, economic, social and philosophical discourse in South Sudan by sharing my insights, objectively and frankly about the way forward. I will try to engage the world to look at South Sudan and the potential it presents for the people of the region in making and remaking what was lost through the years of struggle.

5. Enough Project: South Sudan:

The Enough Project fights to end genocide and crimes against humanity, focused on areas where some of the world’s worst atrocities occur. We get the facts on the ground, use rigorous analysis to determine the most sustainable solutions, influence political leaders to adopt our proposals, and mobilize the American public to demand change.

6. South Sudan Medical Journal:

The South Sudan Medical Journal (SSMJ) was started in February 2008, as the Southern Sudan Medical Bulletin (SSMB), a joint venture between Southern Sudanese and British doctors who wanted to make a free, accessible journal for all branches of healthcare in South Sudan. It published regular quarterly journals that were distributed and read by healthcare staff in government and non-government organisations (NGO’s) throughout the region.

On the 16th April 2009 the SSMB became a charity and was renamed the Southern Sudan Medical Journal.

In line with South Sudan’s independence in July 2011 the charity was renamed South Sudan Medical Journal. This is the charity’s official blog where you will be able to find interesting and relevant news relating to health matters in South Sudan.

7. John Akec:

I am an academic from South Sudan. Currently, I am vice chancellor of a newly instituted university of Northern Bahr El Ghazal in Sudan. I hold degrees in engineering including a doctorate in mechanical and manufacturing engineering. I have also received postgraduate training in environmental sciences and entrepreneurship. My teaching and research interests span mechanical design, robotics, control engineering, artificial intelligence, web development, multimedia systems, environmental impact assessment (EIA), and e-governance.

8. Free South Sudan Media Center:

The Free South Sudan Media Center is an information resource for media and non-governmental organizations, to provide access to country reports, analysis and experts on the January 2011 South Sudan referendum for independence. It is a project of the U.S. Task Force on South Sudan, a coalition of NGOs, academics, reporters and individual Sudanese citizens.

9. Oh Yeah, Sudan!:

Oh yeah, SUDAN! brings you more of the Africa they never show you by highlighting the positives of the Sudan and South Sudan that they never show you. If you are looking for more negativity, there is plenty elsewhere. Otherwise, welcome and enjoy all things Sudan, all the time! *If you have any images, articles, or media to share please submit them at ohyeahsudan.tumblr.com/submit! *Disclaimer: This Tumblr does not own most media posted, but references are always included whenever possible.

10. Sudan Decides:

Sudan Decides is a blog run by Tom Law an independent freelance journalist covering Sudan, South Sudan and East Africa. Tom is also Associate Editor of Sudan Tribune, an online newspaper based in Paris.

Sudan Decides was initially set up to cover Sudan’s 2010 elections and South Sudan’s referendum on independence in January 2011.

The blog attempts to focus on Abyei, South Kordofan and Blue Nile, the three areas which had special status under the peace deal that led to South Sudan’s independence.

11.Martin Garang:

Articles on this blog are arrays of opinions aimed at various vantage points of socio-political and cultural paradigms and their objectivity can be debated.

12. Learn Dinka blog:

Kudualduɔ̈n Muɔnyjäŋ në pinynhom ageer! Welcome to the Dinka blog, the only one of its kind on the World Wide Web!

I hope you will join me në yïknhialde Thuɔŋjäŋic!! Comment, participate, criticize, advise, object, argue, and above all, JOIN me as either an author, contributor or a follower!!!!!!

13. Bored in Post-Conflict:

Bored in Post-Conflict

…..because its better than being terrified in conflict (South Sudan)

*This list is by no means exhaustive. If you know any blogs focused on South Sudan, please let us know: africa (at) globalvoicesonline (dot) org

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