Note to our readers: Background Notes are no longer being updated or produced. They are being replaced with Fact Sheets focusing on U.S. relations with countries and other areas and providing links to additional resources. For archived versions of Background Notes, visit http://www.state.gov/outofdate/bgn/.
More information about South Sudan is available on the South Sudan Page and from other Department of State publications and other sources listed at the end of this fact sheet.
U.S.-SOUTH SUDAN RELATIONS
The United States recognized South Sudan as a sovereign, independent state on July 9, 2011 following its secession from Sudan. The United States played a key role in helping create the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement that laid the groundwork for the 2011 independence referendum and secession. Several disputes between Sudan and South Sudan remain unresolved post-independence, including the management of oil resources and the status of the Abyei region. The United States supports the efforts of the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel to help the parties work through these issues.
U.S. Assistance to South Sudan
The U.S. Government is the leading international donor to South Sudan. Through the U.S. Agency for International Development, it seeks to help make South Sudan increasingly stable while helping the government deliver basic services to citizens; provide effective, inclusive, and accountable governance; diversify the economy; and combat poverty. Increasing stability in South Sudan will depend on a combination of strengthening core governance institutions and processes to make them more inclusive, responding to the expectations of the population for essential services and improved livelihoods, and containing conflicts and addressing the grievances behind them.
Numerous Sudanese refugees have fled to South Sudan due to post-independence fighting. The United States is committed to meeting humanitarian needs, and has urged the international community to join it in efforts to relieve suffering and assist those affected by the ongoing violence.
Bilateral Economic Relations
The United States has no significant trade with South Sudan.
South Sudan's Membership in International Organizations
With independence, South Sudan became the 195th country in the world, and the 193rd member of the United Nations. The UN Security Council established the UN Mission in the Republic of South Sudan in July 2011 to consolidate peace and security and to help establish conditions for development.
Bilateral Representation
The U.S. Ambassador to South Sudan is Susan D. Page; other principal embassy officials are listed in the Department's Key Officers List.
South Sudan maintains an embassy in the United States at 1233 20th Street NW, Suite 602, Washington, DC 20036.
More information about South Sudan is available from the Department of State and other sources, some of which are listed here:
Department of State South Sudan Page
Department of State Key Officers List
CIA World Factbook South Sudan Page
U.S. Embassy: South Sudan
USAID South Sudan Page
History of U.S. Relations With South Sudan
Human Rights Reports
International Religious Freedom Reports (for 2010, see Sudan)
Trafficking in Persons Reports (for 2011, see Sudan)
Narcotics Control Reports
Investment Climate Statements
U.S. Census Bureau Foreign Trade Statistics
Office of Foreign Assets Control Sanctions Page (see Sudan)
Export.gov International Offices Page
Travel and Business Information
