South Sudan is confronted with deep state-building dilemmas, chiefly those stemming from tribalism, the fragmentation of a national identity, elite capture, and historical grievance. This complex interaction, in the face of civil violence legacies, competition over resources and weak institutions, severely undermines national unity, institutional authority and sustainable development. This paper introduces a multi-pronged policy model for transforming tribal loyalties into a national unifying system which is vital for the country’s future. It underlines the importance of imagining a common national interest—of sovereignty, peace and development—as a vital foundation for social solidarity and for domestic and external orientation. Drawing on Robinson’s framework of nine national interest forms, the article recommends a comprehensive form of integration through policy that explicitly connects security strategies, economic policies (for example, fair oil revenue management and land governance) and governance reform proposals to broader, longer-term state-building goals and not simply to short-term political expediency or elite arrangements. Central recommendations for integrating South Sudan’s national and ethnic needs are also shared: (1) to include South Sudan’s rich cultural heritage within an inclusive educational model and national narratives; To build intergroup identity through an interdependent civic education system; to engage in public dialogue; and To create inclusive institutions, with the Constitution providing for the rights of minorities and equitable distribution of resources. Socio-economic disparities need to be addressed too to reduce divisions and to restore the confidence instilled in the nation. By deliberately removing these structural and institutional barriers, South Sudan will develop commonalities in national identity and resilience-building, peace and development for all regions.