South Sudans Coffee Sector: Despite its lengthy history, South Sudan achieved independence only in 2011, making it the most recently recognized country in the world. In addition to Sudan, South Sudan shares borders with Ethiopia, Uganda, and Kenya—three of the top five coffee-producing countries in Africa.
While many believe Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee, a 2021 study found that arabica coffee may have also originated in South Sudan. Surprisingly, coffee was only first exported from this country in 2015.
Due to ongoing conflicts and civil wars, South Sudans coffee sector has faced significant challenges since its independence. Fortunately, there are signs that the coffee industry in South Sudan is beginning to recover, although the nation still encounters numerous obstacles.
I spoke with several local and global coffee experts to gain insights into the genetic history of coffee in South Sudan, as well as the broader landscape of South Sudans coffee sector. Read on to discover what they shared with me.
South Sudan: A new perspective on Arabica’s origin?
Due to its minimal export volumes, many people are unaware that coffee is cultivated in South Sudan, where most of the coffee produced is consumed locally.
However, a recent study titled Validating South Sudan as a Centre of Origin for Coffea arabica: Implications for Conservation and Coffee Crop Improvement, published in the Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems journal, has revealed historical evidence of arabica coffee thriving in South Sudan.
Christophe Montagnon, the CEO of RD2 Vision—a consultancy dedicated to agronomic research and development in coffee—contributed to the research. He states, “There is very little information available on the genetic diversity of arabica coffee. Historical literature suggests that arabica trees once grew wild in South Sudan.”
Despite this, it has been largely accepted that Ethiopia was the exclusive origin of arabica coffee. Christophe mentions that DNA analysis has shown this assumption to be overly simplistic. “When we tested and compared the DNA of leaves from coffee trees in South Sudan with those from Ethiopia, we found significant differences,” he explains.
Christophe and his team believe that arabica coffee has existed in South Sudans coffee sector for a considerable time, growing wild without human interference. “This demonstrates that coffee trees in South Sudan were not brought in from Ethiopia,” he clarifies.
Sarada Krishnan, Executive Director of the International Women’s Coffee Alliance (IWCA), also contributed to the research on South Sudanese coffee. She emphasizes that, despite the nation establishing its borders just over a decade ago, its coffee has developed a unique genetic profile. “Due to its isolation from Ethiopian arabica populations, South Sudanese arabica has become genetically distinct,” she states. “However, some varieties, such as Sudan Rume, were introduced for cultivation.”
This particular variety is now also cultivated in other regions of the Bean Belt, including Colombia. Overall, the findings indicate the importance and uniqueness of South Sudans coffee sector in the broader coffee landscape.
A profile of South Sudan’s Coffee production
South Sudan boasts a unique and diverse climate that is well-suited for cultivating both robusta and arabica coffee.
The drier northern regions are ideal for growing robusta coffee, as this variety is more tolerant of higher temperatures and lower altitudes. In contrast, the southern areas of the country experience more rainfall and humidity, creating favorable conditions for arabica cultivation.
Notably, some arabica coffee can be found growing naturally in the Boma Plateau, located in eastern South Sudan near the border with Ethiopia. Despite its potential for producing high-quality coffee, South Sudans coffee sector suffered significant setbacks due to ongoing conflict.
Delphine Bourseau, Global Relations Manager at Nespresso, discusses how external organizations have contributed to revitalizing the nation’s coffee industry. “After gaining independence in 2011, Nespresso partnered with the non-profit TechnoServe to implement programs aimed at supporting smallholder coffee farmers in Yei County in the southwest,” she explains. “These initiatives focus on sustainability and aim to revive the coffee industry, which was nearly decimated by years of conflict.”
Yei County, situated near the borders with the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, has emerged as a significant trade hub among the three countries. In recent years, it has also experienced a resurgence in coffee production. Interestingly, although the climate in this region is more conducive to arabica coffee, robusta is actually more prevalent.
How coffee is traded and consumed
Coffee cultivation in Yei County dates back to the 1920s, and today, there are approximately 1,000 smallholder farmers in the region involved in growing and selling coffee. Historically, natural processing methods have been favored in South Sudan. However, the recent establishment of several wet mills has enabled farmers to produce more washed coffee.
Paul Stewart, the Global Coffee Director at TechnoServe, explains that since 2016, ongoing conflicts have impeded the operations of wet mills in the country. “Cooperatives have been unable to run wet mills, so farmers resort to sun-drying their coffee and selling it on the local market,” he notes. “Fortunately, the prices farmers are currently receiving are good, primarily because importing coffee into South Sudan is quite challenging.”
The coffee trade system in South Sudan is relatively straightforward. Farmers sell their coffee to traders, who then distribute it throughout the country. The market operates on a “free” basis, allowing farmers to sell their coffee to anyone with minimal restrictions.
While a small amount of South Sudan’s coffee is exported for international consumption, this volume is quite limited. From 2012 to 2016, Nespresso purchased all of the country’s coffee intended for international export, marketing it across Europe and the U.S. as part of the “Limited Edition Grand Cru SULUJA ti South Sudan” capsule line.
Regarding domestic consumption, South Sudan boasts a unique historical coffee culture. Guhwah coffee is traditionally prepared and served in a jebena, a flask made of red clay. This preparation method is similar to the popular coffee ceremonies in Ethiopia and Eritrea.
“South Sudanese people do enjoy coffee,” Paul states. “However, most of it is imported from Uganda. All the coffee produced in South Sudan is consumed locally, mostly at home. People buy green coffee and roast it themselves,” he explains.
In this traditional process, coffee is roasted in a large pan over an open flame. Once the beans have cooled, they are ground using a pestle and mortar. Black pepper or ground ginger is often added to the coffee before boiling.The robusta coffee grown in South Sudan is aromatic, characterized by mild, woody flavors and a balanced body.
Challenges to genetic diversity in South Sudans Coffee Sector
Like many areas in South Sudan, coffee production has faced significant challenges due to ongoing conflict and political instability. “The wild population of arabica is at risk of extinction,” Christophe explains. “It’s a contradictory situation because, as we discover the genetic diversity present in the country’s arabica, we simultaneously risk losing it.”
He adds that climate change and deforestation are contributing factors to this issue. These elements prevent researchers from gathering more genetic data on the wild arabica trees in South Sudans coffee sector.
Sarada notes that one of their research objectives was to create a gene bank to boost local arabica production. However, she reveals that she and her research team have not been able to return to the country. “It’s crucial for us to go back and collect additional genetic samples from these plants to ensure their preservation and maintain their genetic diversity,” she says.
The research team is working to protect South Sudanese arabica populations in forests and gene banks. These collections enable scientists to examine various traits of this coffee, such as flavor profiles and resistance to climate change, pests, and diseases.
“We need to increase collections in gene banks for these species and establish more policies from the government to safeguard coffee forests, including the Yayu Reserve and the Kafa Biosphere Reserve,” Sarada emphasizes. “Since we still don’t know how resilient South Sudanese arabica is, it is essential to protect and preserve these wild populations within South Sudans coffee sector.”
Addressing the challenges in South Sudans Coffee Sector
The ongoing conflict in South Sudan has severely impacted the development of essential infrastructure, land access, and farming practices. Cooperatives face significant difficulties in restarting operations at wet mills, making coffee processing and export increasingly challenging.
Furthermore, the lack of both public and private investment in South Sudans coffee sector has stalled any progress.“The primary challenge today is the unstable political climate, which deters most global markets from sourcing coffee from South Sudan,” Delphine explains. “We are optimistic that once the situation stabilizes, we will be able to recommence our program.”
Many farmers have fled coffee-producing regions due to violence, leading to a dramatic decrease in coffee production. This labor shortage is further intensified by young people moving to urban areas in search of better job prospects.
Despite these obstacles, there is hope for South Sudans coffee sector. In remote communities, valuable information about planting coffee trees and mulching techniques—such as applying a layer of material to the soil’s surface—is shared freely with farmers through radio broadcasts. This outreach is especially helpful for novice farmers who lack formal training.
“We’re eager to return and support farmers in restarting their wet mills so they can export coffee,” Paul remarks. “There is significant potential for growth within the sector.” He adds, “We continue to provide advice and assistance to nurseries managed by farmer groups and local entrepreneurs for producing coffee seedlings.”
The government of South Sudan is receptive to promoting coffee production as a strategy to diversify and enhance the country’s economy, particularly as it aims to reduce dependence on oil exports. Additionally, with ongoing peace negotiations, there is a possibility that farmers may soon resume coffee exports in the coming years. This revival could unlock significant potential, providing job security and sustainable livelihoods for thousands of individuals.
While access to the coffee industry is currently limited, improvements in the situation could enable South Sudan to establish itself as a more significant coffee origin in the future. However, for this potential to be realized, it is essential that the ongoing conflict within the country comes to an end.