The coat of arms of the Republic of South Sudan was adopted in July 2011 following independence from the Republic of Sudan. Prior to independence, South Sudan was an autonomous region of Sudan. The design of the coat of arms was approved by the cabinet of the autonomous Government of Southern Sudan in April 2011, having previously been endorsed by the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly in May 2011.

Design

The arms consist of an

escutcheon Escutcheon may refer to: * Escutcheon (heraldry), a shield or shield-shaped emblem, displaying a coat of arms * Escutcheon (furniture), a metal plate that surrounds a keyhole or lock cylinder on a door * (in medicine) the distribution of pubic ha ...

with the tincture or (gold). The

supporter In heraldry, supporters, sometimes referred to as ''attendants'', are figures or objects usually placed on either side of the shield and depicted holding it up. Early forms of supporters are found in medieval seals. However, unlike the coro ...

is an African fish eagle holding a crossed spear and spade, symbolizing the people's resolve to protect the sovereignty of their republic and work hard to feed it, described in some press accounts as a shield and two spears. The eagle is depicted as looking towards its right shoulder with wings outstretched, and it holds in its claws a scroll bearing the name of the state. The eagle signifies strength, resilience, vision, and majesty.

History

Southern Sudan Autonomous Region (2005–2011)

The Southern Sudan Autonomous Region, that existed between 2005 and 2011, used an emblem consisting of the

coat of arms of Sudan The current national emblem of Sudan was adopted in 1985. Design The emblem shows a secretary bird bearing a shield from the time of Muhammad Ahmad, the self-proclaimed Mahdi who briefly ruled Sudan in the 19th century. Two scrolls are place ...

surrounded by the legends "GOVERNMENT OF SOUTHERN SUDAN" and "GOSS". The arms of Sudan depict a secretarybird bearing a traditional shield. Two scrolls are placed on the arms; the upper one displays the national motto, 'OUR VICTORY', and the lower one displays the title of the state, 'REPUBLIC OF THE SUDAN' in the English language. Another emblem was also used by some agencies and offices of the autonomous Government of Southern Sudan. This coat of arms was similar to the arms of neighbouring

Commonwealth A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has been synonymous with "republic". The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the ...

states

Kenya ) , national_anthem = "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi , ...

and

Uganda }), is a landlocked country in East Africa East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territor ...

. It depicted a traditional African shield with the design of the Flag of Southern Sudan, crossed by lances. The shield was supported by a shoebill and a

rhinoceros A rhinoceros (; ; ), commonly abbreviated to rhino, is a member of any of the five extant species (or numerous extinct species) of odd-toed ungulates in the family Rhinocerotidae. (It can also refer to a member of any of the extinct species o ...

. The compartment depicted local crops and the waters of the

River Nile The Nile, , Bohairic , lg, Kiira , Nobiin: Áman Dawū is a major north-flowing river in northeastern Africa. It flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The Nile is the longest river in Africa and has historically been considered the longest rive ...

with a scroll bearing the motto "JUSTICE, EQUALITY, DIGNITY". File:Seal of the Government of Southern Sudan (2005-2011).svg, Emblem of Southern Sudan (2005–2011) File:Coat of arms of Southern Sudan (2005 proposal).svg, Unofficial coat of arms (2005–2011)

Sub-national emblems

Some of the states and areas of South Sudan have adopted seals or emblems for official purposes.

States

Emblem of Central Equatoria.png,

Central Equatoria Central Equatoria is a state in South Sudan. With an area of , it is the smallest of the original South Sudanese states. Its previous name was Bahr al-Jabal (also Bahr-el-Jebel), named after a tributary of the White Nile that flows through the s ...

Emblem of Eastern Equatoria.jpg, Eastern Equatoria Emblem of Jonglei State.png, Jonglei State Emblem of Lakes State.png, Lakes State Emblem of Northern Bahr el Ghazal.png, Northern Bahr el Ghazal Emblem of Warrap State.png, Warrap State Emblem of Western Bahr el Ghazal.png, Western Bahr el Ghazal Emblem of Western Equatoria.png, Western Equatoria Emblem of Unity State.png, Unity State Emblem of Upper Nile State.png, Upper Nile State

Administrative areas

Emblem of the Abyei Area.png,

Abyei Area The Abyei Area ( ar, منطقة أبيي) is an area of on the border between South Sudan and the Sudan that has been accorded "special administrative status" by the 2004 Protocol on the Resolution of the Abyei Conflict (Abyei Protocol) in ...

Greater Pibor Administrative Area Emblem.png,

Greater Pibor Administrative Area The Greater Pibor Administrative Area is an administrative area in South Sudan. History From the beginning of South Sudanese independence, the Anyuak, Jie, Kachepo, and Murle people in Jonglei sought greater autonomy from the Jonglei State gover ...

Emblem of Ruweng.png,

Ruweng Administrative Area The Ruweng Administrative Area is an administrative area in South Sudan. The area was known as Ruweng State between 2 October 2015 and 22 February 2020 when it was a state of South Sudan. History On 1 October 2015, President Salva Kiir issued a ...

Municipalities

Juba City Council logo.png, Juba

References

External links

* {{Coat of arms of Africa

Sudan Sudan ( or ; ar, السودان, as-Sūdān, officially the Republic of the Sudan ( ar, جمهورية السودان, link=no, Jumhūriyyat as-Sūdān), is a country in Northeast Africa. It shares borders with the Central African Republic t ...

National symbols of South Sudan

South Sudan South Sudan (; din, Paguot Thudän), officially the Republic of South Sudan ( din, Paankɔc Cuëny Thudän), is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia, Sudan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the C ...