Africa's newest country that's been ravaged by civil war during its 13 year existence

remains the world's newest country 13 years after its creation, but it retains many age-old problems that led to its cessation.

Formerly recognised as an independent nation in 2011 following a 2005 agreement to end a , the ten most southern states broke away from Sudan to form South Sudan.

However, after decades of fighting for greater autonomy and sovereignty, the breakaway failed to bring peace to the country.

In 2013, civil war broke out after President Salva Kiir Mayardit sacked his entire cabinet and accused Vice-President Riek Machar of instigating a failed coup.

The ensuing conflict .

A peacekeeping mission did little to stem the violence that has happened so regularly that it has almost become a way of life.

However, in 2018, a power-sharing agreement was signed between the warring parties, with the president and his former vice-president agreeing to lay down their weapons in exchange for an uneasy peace.

Despite an end to the civil war, conflict in neighbouring Sudan has forced the country to deal with the influx of 500,000 refugees.

It is tempting to conclude the piece on an uplifting note, suggesting that life in the country is set to improve vastly, but that is not the reality.

The country has for years been , according to the United Nations, with famine and poverty rife.

In May, the government warned the international community of forecasted floods that it believed would decimate large parts of the country. This warning turned out to be true.

According to the UN's humanitarian organisation, Ocha, .

Ocha says that many seek refuge on high ground, but the rains have made getting aid to those in need difficult.