09/07/2026
The Analysis of 21 Years Without Khartoum:
What Has Changed and who must Answer for What Hasn't been Achieved?
By Dr. Gabriel G*i D. Deng, Ph.D
8th July 2026
Juba, South Sudan
In 1956, Sudan became independent from British's Colonial Rule but for Southern Sudan, that date did not end marginalization instead, for decades, the region continuously faced social, economic and political exclusion from Khartoum led government where basic services such as clean drinking water, schools, roads and hospitals were concentrated in the north.
In the political exclusion, Southern Sudanese were underrepresented in government and the army, such marginalization strategy helped to fuel the SPM/A's 1983 revolutionary war which led to the plebscite in 2011 that gave an Independent Republic of South Sudan.
Under the Independent South Suden, we have many revolutionary benefits we can all be proud of. The Independence South Sudan have two fathers, the Father of the Nation, Late. Dr John Garang De Mabior and the Founding Father, H.E General Salva Kiir Mayardit who proclaimed an Independent South Sudan on 9th July 2011.
This year marks 21 years since Southern Sudan became Autonomous region in 2005 & independent Republic on 9th July 2011 but
for the last 21 years of combined Autonomy and Independence Republic of South Sudan, no Arab-led government in Khartoum have had controls over Juba and if anything made things went wrong in Juba, then it had been inexperienced governance, corruption, nepotism and tribal wars which the Khartoum led regime predicted to be one of the Administrative factors a Southern Sudan shouldn't be allowed to separate but didn't happen due to a long suffering endured by Southerners.
The question now is not only what was done to us by Arabs, but what we have done with the chance we fought for?.
The 21 years records out of Khartoum bo***ge of marginalization, are severe but have been short changed by the hallmarks of independence State. The independent fruits are matter of mixed reactions from the short and long term beneficiaries. The short term hunters can't endure the less suffering compare to harsh suffering imposed on Southerners by the Khartoum controls regime.
The long term benefits expectators are proud of South Sudan's presidential seat in the heart of capital, a flag flying over the sky, a national currency with the portrait of the father of the nation on it, a seat at the UN headquarters in New York and Soveriegn control of its vast resources. Institutions where built from scratch and we must appreciate the Liberation efforts than nothing.
On the other side, the lives of many South Sudanese remain hard, Poverty is widespread, Conflict has returned and basic services are still weak. Corruption drains public money, Displacement and hunger affect millions.
If independence was meant to end suffering, the results so far do not match the promise.
We have all contributed to our own immense suffering for the last 21 years without Khartoum led regime in our affairs.
We have looted the national resources for personal gains, thus is at the expense of national development and basic delivery across the country. The corruption perpetrators were once dismissed from public offices for accountability purposes but they fought back hence putting the appointing Authority on a weaker point of protecting people of South Sudan.
The only break-even point the people of South Sudan hope for, is the upcoming General election in December 2026. The legitimacy of the current Leadership may lead to Public Accountability armament.
The Author is an Assistant Professor of Accounting at Upper Nile University and views expressed here are his own analytical views.
He can be reached at [email protected]
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