Just to mention, there are politically independent states that are economically crippled. Such names cannot precisely be defined as independent.

So, as political developments continue to unfold in South Sudan, focus should also be put on meeting the educational, health, and other needs of the new country. Of course, joining the world as the newest state would mean South Sudan’s acceptance of treaties and conventions.

The United Nations adopted the MDGs in 2000 with an aim to end otherwise preventable human sufferings. Special action plans were put forward to accomplish the goals before the end of the year 2015. Top of all the MDGs is eradication of extreme poverty and hunger all over the world. It is eleven years since the fight against food insecurity—as part of the MDGs—was waged, but great challenges are still facing it. Today, a big population in South Sudan is at potential risk of starvation.

Many Southern Sudanese have been very optimistic of great improvements in all sectors in Sudan after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) because the recent civil strife led to deaths, property destruction, and created a very high degree of destitution.  However, volatile political atmosphere has had great implications on the livelihood of the people more especially in regard to the MDGs. Peace has only been literally pieces of peace in some parts of this would-be country.

Reports by the United Nations show shocking indices of malnutrition, and maternal and under-five mortality rates in South Sudan. These rates rank highest in the whole world.  Maternal mortality stands at 2,054 (per 100,000 live births); under-five mortality is 126 (per 1,000); and only 5 percent of births are attended by skilled personnel. These are the worst in the world!  All these are incredible realities, because presumably more health facilities are being taken to the rural areas in peace time than during the war. As well, livelihood should be improving as a result of peace, and there should obviously be food security.

But on the opposite, many factors, which include the presence of the notorious Ugandan rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in Western Equatoria, inter-tribal hostilities in some parts of Lakes, Jonglei and Upper Nile state, and lack of proper farming equipment, have all led to a decrease of 30 percent in total food production in the semi-autonomous region. 

As a counter measure, demonstration farms should be set up to aid rural farmers establish farms with a much greater output. On the other hand, much awareness on the repercussions of hostilities by fostering peace among the population is a prerequisite.

It is certain that people who fled to barren, unproductive refuge lands during the war became so dependent on relief food to the extent that most of them have forgotten that self-sustenance is basic to human. This accounts for why much of our fertile land remains unexploited in agricultural terms, further deepening the intensity of poverty in the region. Estimated poverty rates remain high with up to 90 percent in Southern Sudan, Southern Kordofan, Blue Nile and Abyei still below the poverty line.  Changing human attitudes to positively adapt to work is one of the toughest wars that will require high skilled persuasive fighters if we want to win it.

There are also continuous threats by the global economic crisis that seems to distract efforts in the achievement of the goals, as a better future for the world’s most vulnerable people who could fall victim to contraction of trade, remittances, capital flows and donor support. Early 2009 was the toughest season of the crises.

Food prices rose crazily in South Sudan although they have not subsided since then, and businesses were brought down though some are now setting off for a better course. It is the sole role of the government to establish a prices legislation committee to assess the living standards. This effort will help in food availability to average citizens. If not, there can be food in the market but at unaffordable prices, the local population suffers — an equation that sums up to food insecurity. 

Despite the above few facts, there are opportunities for economic growth as well as a transition from a humanitarian context to recovery and development if real peace (in security and political terms) prevails. There has been great improvement in the five years of peace, and hopes are high that on declaration of independence in July that the government could do more.

So, political instability must be maximally avoided as the South Sudan transforms from region into statehood. Alongside food security campaign, the nation should look at other goals, such as improving maternal health, combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, and ensuring environmental sustainability so that it enters full-scale prosperity.