South Sudan: The untold story from independence to civil war

In early 2011, a referendum was held in which South Sudan was ultimately declared an independent country, separate from Sudan. By late 2013, a relatively short period after becoming its own entity, South Sudan found itself embroiled in civil war. As many as 300,000 people have been estimated to have been killed in the war which continues today despite a brief interruption of hostilities last year. In a new book, “South Sudan: The Untold Story from Independence to Civil War,” Hilde F. Johnson gives an inside look at South Sudan becoming independent as well the conflict that followed.

On October 4, the Africa Security Initiative, part of the Brookings Center for 21st Century Security and Intelligence, hosted an event focused on South Sudan and Johnson’s new book. The panel included Hilde F. Johnson, former special representative of the secretary-general and head of the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan. She was joined by Ambassador Princeton N. Lyman, former U.S. ambassador to Nigeria and South Africa among other assignments, presently with the United States Institute of Peace. Brian Adeba, associate director of policy of the Enough Project, also participated in the panel. Michael O’Hanlon, senior fellow at Brookings, moderated the event.