In about two months, South Sudan will become the world’s newest country. Earlier this week, the draft constitution was released publicly, to considerable opposition from the minority parties. The constitution is available as a pdf here: http://www.sudantribune.com/IMG/pdf/The_Draft_Transitional_Constitution_of_the_ROSS2-2.pdf Already, violence has increased in the to-be new nation.
So, is there any chance for peace in this country? Is the new constitution going to serve as an effective governing tool? Should the US and the EU community continue to be involved in funding the start up of this nation? Right now, for instance, USIP is providing the most basic supplies for the government committees to meet, including paper and pens. On the other hand, China is an extremely willing partner who has consistently invested in certain types of infrastructure to promote oil extraction, without the ties to democracy that Western funds demand. From your national perspective, how should South Sudan be engaged, if at all?