South Sudan explained to kids

South Sudan is a country in eastern Africa. It is bordered by Sudan to the north, Ethiopia to the east, Kenya to the southeast, Uganda to the south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the southwest. The capital and largest city is Juba. South Sudan became an independent state on 9 July 2011, making it the world's newest country. It is Africa's 54th state. South Sudan is the 193rd member state of the United Nations. South Sudan is a landlocked country. Its territory consists of more than 28 million people and covers an area of about 619,745 square kilometers (239,285 square miles). South Sudan is ethnically diverse, with over 200 different ethnic groups. The majority of the population is Christian. The official languages of South Sudan are English and Arabic. The government of South Sudan is based on the separation of powers between the executive, legislature, and judiciary. The President of South Sudan is the head of state and head of government. The President is elected by the people and is responsible for appointing the Vice President and Prime Minister. The legislature is the bicameral National Legislature, consisting of the Council of States (upper house) and the House of Representatives (lower house). The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. The highest court is the Supreme Court of South Sudan. South Sudan is a member of the United Nations, the African Union, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). South Sudan is a developing country. Its economy is largely based on agriculture, but oil is also an important source of revenue. The country's oil reserves are estimated to be around 3 billion barrels.