The insider account of South Sudan s tumultuous path from independence to chaos An invaluable outstanding book MIA FARROW Packed with riveting detail THE Economist This book is essential reading DOUGLAS H JOHNSON FELLOW OF THE RIFT VALLEY INSTITUTE AND AUTHOR OF SOUTH SUDAN A NEW HISTORY FOR A NEW NATION A harrowing memoir NEW YORKER Hilde F Johnson s in depth analysis leaves no stone unturned in her search for answers in this excellent and well researched book JOHN PRENDERGAST This devastating insider account by the former UN Special Representative in South Sudan of the corruption and bad governance that have brought the world s newest state to its knees provides a vital service not only to the truth but to the people of South Sudan CHRISTOPHER CLAPHAM CENTRE OF AFRICAN STUDIES UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE From the West we observe countries of civil war famine and institutional degradation with a bewildered hopeless eye Hilde F Johnson takes us inside one of the world s sketchiest countries South Sudan Its challenges collapses proxy interventions and the courage of its hope She s been at the centre of it and has candidly written an eye opening exploration if its history political manovering and its brave people s journey forward SEAN PENN