The Role of Oil in South Sudan’s Independence

Year 2025, Volume: 25 Issue: 1, 33 - 42, 30.05.2025

Hande Sapmaz

https://doi.org/10.25294/auiibfd.1618244

Abstract

When the abundance of natural resources in Africa is evaluated through the lens of the “resource curse”, it is often associated with conflict, civil war, grievances among populations, and state fragility. This study specifically focuses on oil as a determining factor for the independence of a secessionist movement, with a detailed examination of the South Sudan case. In this context, the post-independence status of the factors considered as reasons for secession is examined, and whether independence constitutes a lasting solution is discussed.
The study first elaborates on the structural factors of secession by examining the grievances that formed the basis of the South Sudanese people’s demand for separation through the colonial policies of British rule. After South Sudan’s independence, the significance of oil is explained through key themes such as the resource sharing crises between the North and the South (disputed borders), the outbreak of civil war in the newly independent state, and the instabilities that emerged during the distribution of South Sudan’s oil among non-state actors.
Ultimately, while natural resources and the differentiated group identities play a decisive role in a secessionist movement’s path to independence, they cannot be considered as sole causes. Indeed, although oil strengthened the secessionist movement by being presented as a formula for liberation to the South Sudanese people, it later became one of the destabilizing factors for the newly independent state.

Keywords

Oil , Secession , Civil War , South Sudan , Africa

Güney Sudan’ın Bağımsızlığında Petrolün Rolü

Abstract

Afrika’da doğal kaynakların bolluğu, “kaynak laneti” perspektifinden değerlendirildiğinde çatışmalar, iç savaşlar, şikâyetleri olan halklar ve devlet zayıflığı ile ilişkilendirilebilir. Çalışma, bir ayrılma hareketinin bağımsızlıkla sonuçlanmasında etkili olan unsurlardan doğal kaynaklar özelinde petrolü, Güney Sudan vakası için detaylandırmaktadır. Bu sayede ayrılmanın nedenleri olarak kabul edilebilecek faktörlerin bağımsızlık sonrasındaki durumları saptanarak, bağımsızlığın kalıcı bir çözüm olup olmadığı tartışılmaktadır.
Çalışmada ilk olarak ayrılmanın yapısal faktörleri bağlamında, Güney Sudanlı halkların ayrılma talebinin temelini oluşturan şikâyetler, İngiltere sömürge yönetimi politikaları üzerinden detaylandırılmaktadır. Güney Sudan’ın bağımsızlığından sonra petrolün etkinliği; Güney ve Kuzey arasındaki paylaşım krizleri (tartışmalı sınırlar), yeni bağımsız devlette çıkan iç savaş ve Güney Sudan petrolünün devlet dışı aktörler arasında dağıtımı sırasında ortaya çıkan istikrarsızlıklar şeklinde geliştirilen satır başları ile açıklanmaktadır.
Sonuç olarak, doğal kaynaklar ve farklılaşmış grup kimlikleri bir ayrılma hareketinin bağımsızlığa ulaşmasında belirleyici olsa da tek başına yeterli nedenleri meydana getirmemektedir. Nitekim Güney Sudanlı halklara bir kurtuluş formülü olarak sunulan ayrılma hareketini güçlendiren petrolün varlığı, bağımsızlık sonrası yeni devletin istikrarını bozan değişkenlerden biri olmuştur.

Keywords

Petrol , Ayrılma , İç savaş , Güney Sudan , Afrika

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