International audience The paper summarizes the language and educational policy of the Republic of South Sudan against the backdrop of a sociolinguistic survey conducted in Juba, South Sudan, in the months of July-August 2013, and aiming at a better understanding of the role, uses and beliefs surrounding the use of Juba Arabic, an Arabic-based pidgincreole widely used in Juba and in a wide part of the newly independent country. The results highlight the fact that, although the government of the newly independent country does not recognize the very existence of Juba Arabic, this is the real lingua franca and the most widely spoken language. In a parallel way, although Arabic, the former official language, is not granted any special role and status, it still acts as the de facto "high variety." FOREWORD: LANGUAGE IN THE SOUTH SUDAN