Juba, South Sudan – As South Sudan marks 15 years of independence on July 9, hopes that accompanied the birth of the world’s youngest country in 2011 have given way to a fragile reality.After decades of struggle for self-determination and a long civil war with Sudan, the country descended into its own conflict between 2013 and 2018, a war that researchers estimate killed hundreds of thousands of people.Although the 2018 Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) largely ended the fighting, analysts and humanitarian agencies say implementation has stalled, leaving many South Sudanese questioning when the dividends of independence will finally reach them.“Basic services such as healthcare and clean water remain severely limited. They have become a privilege rather than a right,” Sabila Sebit, an activist from Western Bahr el Ghazal State, told Al Jazeera.She said ongoing localised and intercommunal violence continues to undermine daily life in many parts of the country.“Peace and security remain major concerns due to ongoing localised and intercommunal violence affecting almost every state. Establishing lasting peace is critical so that families can live safely and continue with their daily lives,” she said.Sebit also said the 35 percent affirmative action quota for women under the R-ARCSS has yet to be fully implemented, while legislation aimed at advancing women’s rights remains pending.‘Persistent challenges’South Sudan’s challenges include the “rise of intercommunal violence, revenge attacks, cattl …
