South Sudan, 15 years on: Still fighting for peace

As South Sudan marks 15 years of independence on July 9, 2026, the hopes of 2011 have given way to a fragile reality. After a civil war from 2013 to 2018 that killed hundreds of thousands, the 2018 peace deal (R-ARCSS) ended the fighting but its implementation is stalled. Activist Sabila Sebit says basic services like healthcare and clean water have become a privilege, and intercommunal violence continues. Activist Zabib Musa Loro Bakhit highlights conflict-related sexual violence, early marriage, land grabbing, and economic hardship.