After Years of Struggle, South Sudan Becomes a New Nation - The New York Times The New York Times Africa |After Years of Struggle, South Sudan Becomes a New Nation Search Continue reading the main story Photo President Salva Kiir gathered with leaders from around the world to celebrate South Sudan’s independence. Credit Tyler Hicks/The New York Times JUBA, South Sudan — The celebrations erupted at midnight. Thousands of revelers poured into Juba’s steamy streets in the predawn hours on Saturday, hoisting enormous flags, singing, dancing and leaping on the back of cars. “Freedom!” they screamed. A new nation was being born in what used to be a forlorn, war-racked patch of Africa, and to many it seemed nothing short of miraculous. After more than five decades of an underdog, guerrilla struggle and two million lives lost, the Republic of South Sudan , Africa’s 54th state, was about to declare its independence in front of a who’s who of Africa, including the president of the country letting it go: Omar Hassan al-Bashir of Sudan , a war-crimes suspect.

Many of those who turned out to celebrate, overcome with emotion, spoke of their fathers, mothers, sons and daughters killed in the long struggle to break free from the Arab-dominated north. “My whole body feels happy,” said George Garang, an English teacher who lost his father, grandfather and 11 brothers in the war. Continue reading the main story By sunrise, the crowds were surging through the streets of Juba, the capital, to the government quarter, where the declaration of independence would be read aloud. Thousands of soldiers lined the freshly painted curbs, tiger patches on their arms, assault rifles in their hands. This new nation is being built on a guerrilla army — the Sudan People’s Liberation Army, whose field commanders are now South Sudan’s political leaders — and the amount of firepower here is unnerving. Advertisement Continue reading the main story By 9 a.m., the sun was dangerous. The faces, necks and arms of the people packed thousands deep around a parade stand built for the occasion were glazed with sweat. A woman abruptly slumped to the dirt and was whisked away. “She fainted because she’s happy,” said a man in the crowd.

“There will be many others today.” In a column of black polished steel, one brand-new Mercedes after another, came the African leaders: Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s president; Jacob Zuma, South Africa’s; Meles Zenawi, prime minister of Ethiopia; Teodoro Obiang, Equatorial Guinea’s president and chairman of the African Union; Mwai Kibaki, Kenya’s president; and Yoweri Museveni, president of Uganda, among others. Video The Republic of South Sudan After more than five decades of guerrilla struggle and two million lives lost, the Republic of South Sudan, Africa's 54th state, declared its independence. By Nichole Sobecki|Vijai Singh on Publish Date July 9, 2011. . Watch in Times Video » embed But, almost inexplicably, Mr. Bashir, who for years prosecuted a vicious war to keep the south from splitting off and to prevent this very day from happening, drew the loudest burst of applause when his motorcade rolled in. “It is not happiness,” explained Daniel Atem, dressed in a suit and tie for the occasion, a miniflag flying from his lapel.

“If you are talking to your enemy, you cannot say, You are bad.” But, he added, “you know what is in your heart.” From the mid-1950s, even before Sudan shook off its colonial yoke in 1956, the southern Sudanese were chafing for more rights. Sudan had an unusually clear fault line, reinforced by British colonizers, with the southern third mostly animist and Christian and the northern part majority Muslim and long dominated by Arabs. The southern struggle blew up into a full-fledged rebellion in the 1960s and then again in the 1980s, and the Sudanese government responded brutally, bombing villages and unleashing Arab militias that massacred civilians and enslaved southern Sudanese children. Many of the same scorched-earth tactics associated with the crisis in Darfur, in Sudan’s west, in the mid-2000s, were tried and tested long before that here in southern Sudan. (The International Criminal Court has indicted Mr. Bashir on genocide charges for the Darfur massacres.) The central government also sowed divisions among the southerners, turning ethnic groups against one another.

Some of the most unspeakable violence, like the Bor massacre in 1991 when toddlers were impaled on fence posts, was internecine. Advertisement Continue reading the main story Christian groups had been championing the southern Sudanese since the 19th century. And their efforts paid off in 2000 when George W. Bush was elected president of the United States. He elevated Sudan to near the top of his foreign policy agenda, and in 2005, the American government pushed the southern rebels and the central government — both war weary and locked in a military stalemate — to sign a comprehensive peace agreement that guaranteed the southerners the right to secede. Please verify you're not a robot by clicking the box. Invalid email address. Please re-enter. You must select a newsletter to subscribe to. Sign Up embed “Mabrook Janoob Sudan!” they yelled. “Congratulations South Sudan!” South Sudan’s president, Salva Kiir, wearing his signature black cowboy hat given to him by Mr. Bush, signed the interim Constitution. Then the speeches began. “This is a beautiful day for Africa,” said Joseph Deiss, president of the United Nations General Assembly.

“This is a remarkable achievement, a longstanding conflict has been stopped.” Perhaps. But South Sudan — Texas-size and with about eight million people — is already plagued by ethnic tensions and rebellions. More than a half-dozen renegade groups are battling the government, some with thousands of fighters. And relations with the north are still dicey. Negotiators have yet to agree on a formula to split the revenue from the south’s oilfields, which have kept the economies of both southern and northern Sudan afloat. And Mr. Bashir’s army has been pounding southern-allied rebels who have refusing to disarm just north of the border in the Nuba Mountains, which some analysts worry could drag the whole region back into a full-scale war. This is why Mr. Bashir’s presence here was such a curiosity. He did sign the peace agreement in 2005, and many southerners, however mixed their feelings are, are grateful to him for that. He seemed in a magnanimous mood on Saturday. “This moment came through peace,” Mr. Bashir said.

“We must respect it.” Advertisement Continue reading the main story He even thanked the United Nations for its hard work and said he wanted to bring peace to Darfur, though he did slip in, “Sudan’s unity would have been better,” but “I convinced myself that unity shouldn’t be through war.” Mr. Kiir then shared a few words. “We have waited for more than 56 years for this,” he said. “It is a dream that has come true.” “This land has seen untold suffering and death,” he added, somberly. “We have been bombed enslaved and treated worse than a refugee in our own country. We have to forgive, though we will not forget.” The independence ceremony then wrapped up much in the way the struggle began: with a barrage of very loud cannon shots. The crowd pumped their fists in the air and hollered, “South Sudan, oh yay!” Josh Kron contributed reporting. A version of this article appears in print on July 10, 2011, on Page A6 of the New York edition with the headline: Struggle Over, Independent South Sudan Rejoices.

Order Reprints | Today's Paper | Subscribe Travellers' Guide To South Sudan - Wiki Travel Guide - Travellerspoint edit Introduction South Sudan, or officially the Republic of South Sudan, became an independent country on the 9th of July 2011, after a period of autonomy from Sudan of about 4 years. edit Brief History Initially, the country was part of the British and Egyptian condominium of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan and became part of the Republic of Sudan when independence was achieved in 1956. Following the First Sudanese Civil War, the Southern Sudan Autonomous Region was formed in 1972 and lasted until 1983. A second Sudanese civil war soon developed and ended with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005. Later that year southern autonomy was restored when an Autonomous Government of Southern Sudan was formed. South Sudan became an independent state on 9 July 2011 at midnight local time following a referendum held in January 2011 in which nearly 99% of voters opted for separation from the rest of Sudan. edit Geography The Republic of South Sudan covers almost 620,000 square kilometres.

It is a landlocked country bordered by Ethiopia to the east, Kenya , Uganda , and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the south, the Central African Republic to the west, and finally to the north its the country with which it formed one until the 9th of July 2011: Sudan. The country is covered by tropical forests, swamps and grassland. Other habitats in the country include high-altitude plateaus and escarpments, and wooded and grassy savannas. The White Nile passes through the country as well, passing by Juba. South Sudan still has quite a few protected areas and parks, which surprisingly are for the larger part still intact. The Boma-Jonglei Landscape region encompasses Boma National Park, broad pasturelands and floodplains, Bandingilo National Park, and the Sudd, a vast area of swamp and seasonally flooded grasslands that includes the Zeraf Wildlife Reserve. The country hosts the second largest wildlife migration in the world (after the one in the Masai Mara and Serengeti National Park in Kenya and Tanzania ) with about 1.3 million antelopes being part o that migration!

Boma National Park, as well as the Sudd wetland and Southern National Park provided habitat for large populations of hartebeest, kob, topi, buffalo, elephants, giraffes, and lions. South Sudan's forest reserves also provided habitat for bongo, giant forest hogs, Red River Hogs, forest elephants, chimpanzees, and forest monkeys. Although numbers have been decreasing during the last decades, signifcant numbers are still here. Other wildlife species include the endemic white-eared kob and Nile Lechwe, as well as Common and Giant Eland, oryx and African Wild Dogs. edit Regions South Sudan is divided three historical regions, again divided into ten states and furthermore subdivided into 86 counties. The regions and states are: Bahr el Ghazal edit Events and Festivals In the past few years, more and more events have been added to South Sudan's calendar. This means that there is often a choice of distractions and celebrations whatever time of the year you choose to visit. Many of the country's festivals are aimed at promoting its cultural assets, alongside peace and prosperity. Others have the aim of raising much-needed funds for hospitals or other public projects.

If you are planning to holiday in South Sudan during the month of July or August, then you will find plenty of quality attractions and events. Each year on July 9th, the Independence Day festivities come along, being at their biggest within the capital city of Juba, where they also comprise a well-supported marathon race. During the following month of August, the Festival of Fashion and Arts for Peace is well worth looking out for in the capital, as is the oriental extravaganza that is the Japanese Summer Fest. edit Weather Unlike its arid northern neighbour, South Sudan has a more tropical climate with hot and humid conditions year round and very marginal difference in temperatures between the warmest and the coolest months. Typically, June to September sees average highs of around 26 -27 °C Old anti-aircraft gun at sketchy border post © All Rights Reserved africraigs By Plane Juba Airport (JUB) near the capital is the main gateway to South Sudan, with flights to/from Nairobi , Khartoum , Entebbe , Cairo and Addis Ababa . By Train There is one railway line in South Sudan that enters from Sudan in the north and terminates at Wau.

Before independence there were services between Wau and Babanosa, which had rail connections to Khartoum. As of 2014, however, there are no scheduled passenger services. edit Red Tape As South Sudan achieved independence fairly recently, the immigration rules are still prone to change. They have, however, instituted proper visas in your passport now, instead of the travel permits that were formerly used. The visas are issued for US$100 at all border crossings and Juba International Airport. The length of the visas issued seems to vary randomly between 1 and 6 months. An invitation letter may be required depending on which official is at the desk on your day of arrival. The process can take 3 hours. If you do not have a local contact with official connections, it would be safer to get a visa before arriving in the country. Visas are now available from the embassy in London for GBP35 cash and typically take 3 working days to process. See also Travel Health Proof that you had a yellow fever vaccination is required upon entering South Sudan when you have been in a yellow fever country within 7 days of entering South Sudan. Still, it is recommended you get the yellow fever vaccination anyway.

You have to have a cholera stamp (prove of the fact that you don't have that desease) when entering overland. It's a good thing to get your vaccinations in order before travelling to South Sudan. The general vaccination against Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio (DTP) is recommended. Also both hepatitis A as well as typhoid would be recommended. If you are staying longer than 3 months or have a particular risk (travelling by bike, handling of animals, visits to caves) you might consider a rabies vaccination. Vaccination against Tuberculosis as well as hepatitis B are also sometimes recommended for stays longer than 3 months. When staying longer than 6 months, vaccination against meningitis might be recommended, depending on your contact with other people. Like most African countries south of the Sahara, Malaria is prevalent in the country. Don't underestimate this tropical disease and take precautions. Buy repellent (preferably with 50% DEET), and sleep under a net. Dengue is present in some parts of the country, mainly around urban areas. Finally, other possible health issues include diarrhea and other general travellers' diseases like motion sickness .

Watch what you eat and drink and in case you get it, drink plenty of fluids (to prevent dehydration) and bring ORS. See also Travel Safety Due to an ongoing conflict with Sudan, as well as violent political/civil unrest, South Sudan is currently dangerous for travel - especially the areas close to the border. Although the level of violence has subsided since the establishment of the country and the end of the civil war, this will not at all guarantee safety for any traveller to the country. Travel near the Sudan or CAR borders is extremely dangerous. Following what was called an attempted coup on 16 Dec 2013, travel to Juba and South Sudan should be avoided if at all possible. A curfew is in place from 18:00 to 06:00. Though Juba has remained quiet, fighting is still reported from other towns, possibly as a result of departing combatants from the Juba area. On and after 18 Dec, a number of embassies evacuated their staff after the airport reopened. The UK and Canada are recommending their citizens leave the country. Other visitors should likewise consider leaving as soon as possible, now that commercial flights have resumed.

EU citizens should contact an EU embassy for assistance, if they cannot make contact with the embassy of their home country. South Sudan South Sudan in Africa South Sudan – officially the Republic of South Sudan is a country in the Sahel region of Africa ofnortheastern located. It is also part of North Africa, the UN Sub-region. Its present capital of Juba, is also the largest city, the capital is expected to be more central Ramciel move into the future. Southern Sudan is from Ethiopia in the east, Kenya to the south-east, south, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo in the south-west, the Central African Republic west, and Sudan is limited to the north. South Sudan covers an area of vast Sudd swamp by the White Nile, formed here by the name of Bahr al Jabal. south sudan africa Modern states of Southern Sudan and the Sudan is part of Egypt under Muhammad Ali’s dynasty, before they settled as the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan until independence was achieved in 1956. After the first civil war in Sudan, South Sudan Autonomous Region was founded in 1972 and lasted until 1983.

A second Sudanese civil war developed rapidly and ended with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005. Later this year, the autonomy of the South was restored when an autonomous Government of Southern Sudan was formed. Government Southern Sudan became an independent state ninth July 2011. This is a UN member state, a Member State of the African Union and a member state of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development. The late Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly has an interim constitution shortly before independence seventh Ratified in July 2011. The Constitution was signed by the President of Southern Sudan on Independence Day and entered into force. It is now the supreme law of the country, replacing the interim constitution of 2005. The constitution establishes a presidential system of mixed government under a president who is head of state, led Prime Minister and Commander of the armed forces. Also sets the National Legislative Assembly, consisting of two houses: a directly elected assembly, the National Assembly authority, and a second chamber of representatives of States, the Council of States. John Garang, the founder of the SPLA / M was the first president of the autonomous government and 30 to his death July 2005.

Salvatore and his deputy, was the first Vice President of Sudan and President of the Government of Southern Sudan 11th Sworn in August 2005. Riek Machar [8] replaced him as vice president of government. Legislative power is exercised by the government and the bicameral national legislation. The Constitution also provides for an independent judiciary, is the supreme organ of the Supreme Court. States in South Sudan Bahr el Ghazal, Equatoria and Upper Nile Grand: Southern Sudan’s ten states that have been divided three historical regions of Sudan. Bahr el-Ghazal  Upper Nile The ten states are divided into 86 counties. The region of Abyei, a small region in the Sudan, bordering the southern states of Sudan, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Unity and Warrap, currently has a special administrative status in Sudan and is controlled by an administration area of Abyei. He was a referendum in 2011 on whether to hold in southern Sudan or remain part of Sudan, but in May confiscated by the Sudanese army of Abyei, and it is not clear if the referendum is held.

south sudan juba Culture In the many years of civil war, the culture is strongly influenced by the neighboring countries in southern Sudan. Many southern Sudanese are in Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda, where they interact with citizens and learned their language and culture fled. For most of those who remained in the country or went to northern Sudan and Egypt have greatly assimilated Arab culture. It is also interesting to note that most of southern Sudan kept the core of their culture, even in exile and diaspora. Traditional culture is strong and confirmed a major focus is on knowledge of the origin anddialect given person. Although widely spoken languages are English and Arabi Juba, Swahili is the public will be introduced to improve the country’s relations with its East African neighbors. Many music artists of Southern Sudan in the English language, Kiswahili, Arabi Juba, dialect, or a mixture of everything. Popular artists such as Yaba Angelosi sings Afro-Beat, R & B and zouk, proactive, and is popular for its reggae releases and Emmanuel Kembe singing folk, reggae and Afro-beat. There are few artists, however, that Southern Sudan has so far produced.

Reflections BYG is a beautiful soft voice rocks the floor with his first single, which means Zouk Ng’ume smile, was a great success in just a few days after the release .. She has an amazing voice for high as well as popular jazz Afro-beat and hip-hop, from wine-singing R & B and Zouk; Nyaruach the Afro-Beat and Pop, Queen Zee is known for his rap music. Sports In modern times, Southerners have excelled in international sport. Luol Deng is a National Basketball Association stars in the U.S., where he played for the Chicago Bulls, he represents the UK internationally. Other important actors in international basketball in Southern Sudan includeManute Bol, Ajou Deng, Kueth Duany, Deng Ater Majok and gay.Southern Sudan national basketball team first played against the 10th national basketball team in Uganda July 2011 in Juba. south sudan girls After independence, what next for South Sudan? | Africa Renewal Online After independence, what next for South Sudan? After independence, what next for South Sudan?

Building a new nation amidst dire poverty and the scars of war By: Celebrants arriving in Juba for South Sudan's independence day festivities: "We must get to work right away," said President Salva Kiir. Photograph: UN Photo / Paul Banks With a roaring cheer the people of South Sudan welcomed the newest nation in the world. A sea of people waved flags in a blur of colour as the south's flag was hoisted high into the air on 9 July, marking the historic moment of formal independence from former civil war enemies in the north. Couples embraced and men cried as the new national anthem was sung for the first time ever. "Today is the most important day for the people of South Sudan, the proclamation of whose birth and emergence as a member of the community of world nations you have just witnessed," said President Salva Kiir, speaking in front of a giant crowd. "It is a day which will be forever engraved on our hearts and minds.… We have waited 56 years for this day. It is a dream that has come true." But the party is over, and now the hard work begins. "Let us celebrate today, but we must get to work right away," President Kiir added.

Achieving that dream will be no easy task. The new nation, an area about the size of Spain and Portugal combined, is left in ruins by decades of war. "We have suffered so much over many long years of fighting," said former child soldier turned student Mabior David. "Our baby nation has a long way to go," he added. "But if we can be left in peace, I'm hopeful we will manage." Challenges Sudan's wars were the longest running conflict in Africa: two rounds of civil war spanning nearly 40 years, fought over ideology, religion, ethnicity, resources, land and oil. The last round, from 1983 to 2005, left some 2 million people dead and 4 million displaced from their homes. Some in the south fought for separation. Others wanted Sudan to remain united, aiming to change a ruling regime in Khartoum that they said marginalized the majority. But the rebels also fought amongst themselves, in bitter internecine battles as bloody and as bitter as those fought against government forces. A referendum on independence was set as part of a 2005 peace deal.

When it came this January, almost 99 per cent of southerners who voted in the poll chose to split Africa's largest country into two. Southerners hope that the wars are now over. But formal independence will not solve overnight the massive problems left by such a long war. "There are enormous expectations, but also enormous challenges ahead," said Joe Feeney, who heads the UN Development Programme in South Sudan. "The people of South Sudan have suffered enormously. [The war] left a scar that is not only physical, in the infrastructure, but a scar has been left on the people." Six nations share a border with South Sudan, which has fewer than 100 kilometres of tarmac roads. "The vast majority of the country remains inaccessible during the rainy season," added Mr. Feeney. "Jonglei state, just one of the 10 states in the south, is twice the size of my country, Ireland, and it has no paved roads." Statistics are shocking. South Sudan has lucrative oil reserves, but remains one of the most impoverished and least developed countries in the world. The UN's World Food Programme said it helped feed about half the population last year, or some 4 million people.

The UN issues a list of "scary statistics" for visiting journalists: South Sudan has the lowest routine immunization coverage rate in the world. A 15-year-old girl has a higher chance of dying in childbirth than completing school. One out of seven women who become pregnant in the south will probably die from pregnancy-related causes. Away from the celebrations in the capital, Juba, people had little time to party for independence. Much of their lives are taken up with day-to-day survival. "The acid test of success will be what changes the people out in the states will see in their lives as a result of independence," Mr. Feeney said. "All of Sudan, not just the south, will face major challenges," warns Oxfam, the UK-based aid agency. "It will need long-term support from the international community if there is to be lasting peace and development." In Africa's newest — and one of its poorest — nations, one out of seven women dies from pregnancy-related causes. UN Photo / Fred Noy Trappings of a state Football and basketball teams have been made, passports ordered, a national anthem written and sung.

"Having our own team play under the South Sudanese flag is something we have waited for," says Rudolf Andrea, secretary of the South Sudan Football Association. "It is something I never thought would be possible, to show the world we are truly a new nation." But creating a viable nation will take more work than the symbolic trappings of state alone. The introduction of a new separate currency for the south is just one step, with other major hurdles ahead for the fledgling economy. Key to the success of the south will be how the government negotiates with those who still threaten the new country, from outside and within. Ethnic rivalries between multiple groups are exasperated by bitter enmities dating from the war. In the past, the north exploited rivalries by backing splinter militias distrustful of the mainstream southern leadership. Most of the south pulled together during the war in opposition to forces from the north. But now that separation has taken place, the south must unite and find new bonds and create a nation based on a shared identity.

"Is this nation going to be an inclusive nation?" asked Jok Madut Jok, a South Sudanese academic working in the culture ministry, who is also a history professor at Loyola Marymount University in the US state of California. "Or is it going to exercise the double standard that other countries have gone in for — that you become independent and then go ahead and do the exact things that you had rebelled against?" Ensuring economic growth Over 2 million southerners have returned home since the 2005 peace agreement was signed. But a new wave of tens of thousands of families are now travelling from the north to south. Over 300,000 people have returned home since last October, with many more expected still to come. "We have returned home because we had to leave the north, because our jobs were terminated," said former civil service official Giir Thiik, who spent four weeks on a slow barge to Juba. "There is nothing here for me to do, and my money is little. I'm glad to be back in the south, but truthfully, it is a shock." Building an economy to construct the new nation and provide jobs will put huge pressure on the government.

Up to now, many services have been provided by aid agencies and international partners. The government budget is based almost entirely on oil revenues, as much as 98 per cent in recent years. But there is also other economic potential. The south is believed to hold large mineral and metal deposits. It has vast areas of potential farmland, forestry and even hydroelectric power from the White Nile River. But change must reach the people on the streets and in the villages. "We just want to be able to work and make a life for ourselves," says Mary Okech, a widow with six children, who collects rubbish. "The problems are that there are not good jobs for us, and I don't have the money to make a business on my own. I need help for that." UN peacekeepers in the disputed territory of Abyei after it was looted by forces supporting the Sudanese government in Khartoum. Photograph: UN Photo / Stuart Price Violence Stabilizing peace also remains a real concern. The final steps towards Sudan's divorce have been far from easy. Key deals remain to be struck on a variety of issues: sharing the oil proceeds, dividing the US$35 billion debt and demarcating the borders.

Both countries have introduced new currencies, a process that is likely to add complications to their struggling and poorly managed economies. Despite a peaceful referendum for the south, tensions remain high with the north, after months of violence in the border areas. In May, northern troops took over the contested Abyei region, forcing over 110,000 people to flee into the south. Both north and south claim the flashpoint region of grasslands and farms about the size of Lebanon as theirs. A referendum to determine where it will belong has been blocked, and remains a source of tension between the two sides. A deal has been struck for northern troops to pull out and Ethiopian peacekeepers to replace them. But that deal still does not provide any means for a long-term peaceful solution. Then in June violence broke out in the northern oil state of Southern Kordofan, between the northern military and former members of the ex-rebel Sudan People's Liberation Army, now the official southern army. The north claims the fighters there are backed by the south, just as the south accuses the north of backing rebels in its territory to destabilize key oil areas along the still undefined north-south border. Each side rejects the other's accusations.

But analysts say they fear there will be no swift solution to the conflict along the border. Countdown to South Sudan's independence 1820 Egyptian army under Ottoman Turks invade Sudan, the south's official start date of the "191-year struggle." 1955 Torit Mutiny against British colonial rule, followed by an intermittent bush war. 1 January 1956 Independence of Sudan. 1963 Southern separatist Anyanya rebels step up attacks. 1972 Peace agreement signed between Khartoum and Anyanya rebels, giving the south limited autonomy; but the agreement swiftly crumbles. 1983 Southern army officers rebel in Bor, forming the Sudan People's Liberation Army and sparking the start of the second civil war. 9 January 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed to end 21 years of war. 9 January 2011 Week-long South Sudan independence referendum held. 7 February 2011 Final results released: almost 99 per cent vote for separation. 9 July 2011 Independence of South Sudan proclaimed.

Topics: South Sudan South Sudan Languages: Arabic and English (official) plus Dinka, Nuer, Bari, Zande and Shilluk GDP per capita :1,859 in 2011 GDP current US$: 19 in 2011 South Sudan, officially the Republic of South Sudan and previously known as Southern Sudan, is a landlocked country in east-central Africa that is part of the United Nations subregion of Eastern Africa. Its current capital is Juba, which is also its largest city. The capital city is planned to be changed to the more centrally located Ramciel in the future. South Sudan is bordered by Ethiopia to the east, Kenya to the southeast, Uganda to the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the southwest, the Central African Republic to the west and the Republic of Sudan to the north. It includes the vast swamp region of the Sudd, formed by the White Nile and known locally as the Bahr al Jabal. The territories of modern South Sudan and the Republic of Sudan were part of Egypt under the Muhammad Ali Dynasty, and later governed as an Anglo-Egyptian condominium until Sudanese independence was achieved in 1956.

Following the First Sudanese Civil War, the Southern Sudan Autonomous Region was formed in 1972 and lasted until 1983. A second Sudanese civil war soon developed and ended with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005. Later that year, southern autonomy was restored when an Autonomous Government of Southern Sudan was formed. South Sudan became an independent state on 9 July 2011, following a referendum that passed with 98.83% of the vote. It is a United Nations member state, a member state of the African Union, and a member state of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development. In July 2012, South Sudan signed the Geneva Conventions. Source : Wikipedia South Sudan — Google Sightseeing South Sudan Tuesday, 19th July 2011 by Ian Brown It’s not every day that a new country is created, but that’s what happened on July 9th 2011 when The Republic of South Sudan came into existence. The nation is so new that Google Maps doesn’t yet show it.

However, it encompasses much of the southern part of Sudan, approximately delineated on the current map by the light/dark transition between different sets of satellite images. 1 After decades of civil war, the southern region of Sudan first became autonomous in 1972. This lasted only 11 years until a second civil war broke out. A peace settlement in 2005 saw autonomy restored. A referendum in early 2011 resulted in an overwhelming majority of people supporting the proposal to become an independent nation. The capital of this new country is the southern city of Juba , which sits on the banks of the White Nile. The independence celebrations took place at the memorial for John Garang , a rebel leader with the Sudan People’s Liberation Army. He played a significant role in the peace declaration of January 2005, following which he became a Vice President of Sudan, and President of the Autonomous Government of South Sudan. However, he died in a helicopter crash only seven months later. Garang remains a popular figure in South Sudan. The new country’s Legislative Assembly can be seen just to the north of the memorial.

In many ways a city of contrasts, Juba has shockingly expensive tourist resorts along the river, a short distance from bases for relief agencies such as assorted United Nations programs, including the World Food Program and other groups such as Médecins Sans Frontières and USAID. Amidst the celebration of independence, it’s impossible to forget that this is one of the poorest regions on the planet, with ongoing humanitarian crises within the country and others which surround it. Juba also has a busy airport – where we can see many planes and helicopters, many no doubt used by the aid agencies – a university and a teaching hospital . South Sudan’s territory contains a number of existing national parks and game reserves , though I imagine only the most intrepid tourists are able to visit them. Unfortunately, the fledgling country also came into being with at least two pre-existing border disputes. The northern Abyei region is claimed by both sides of the divided country, and a second referendum will be held to determine the future of this area. The dispute is the result of rich oil deposits in the region, with both sides desperately wanting the money that is generated by the industry.

The Unity oilfield in Abyei is the starting point of the Greater Nile Oil Pipeline which runs through the northern country to Port Sudan. In the south-east, the Ilemi Triangle is an area currently controlled by Kenya. The ongoing dispute over the region will be handled by the new South Sudanese government. Google Maps marks the disputed border in dashed lines. Google Earth marks disputed borders in red, and shows an additional area between Sudan and South Sudan in the north-west, near the border with the Central African Republic. I also found a news article that mentions a dispute with Uganda. Traditional tribal boundaries don’t always fit well with national borders. You can learn more about South Sudan through the new government’s web site . More can also be found at Wikipedia , and the BBC has in-depth coverage. As of July 18th, the new country is shown in Google Earth, so I imagine Google Maps will make the transition in the near future.

↩ North, South Sudan now separate nations - World - CBC News North, South Sudan now separate nations Abyei, Nuba conflicts, unresolved issues make for tense independence day in South CBC News Posted: Jan 07, 2011 9:34 PM ET Last Updated: Jul 08, 2011 4:29 PM ET South Sudan formally declares its independence for Sudan on July 9. A man holds up South Sudan's new flag during a rehearsal in Juba July 7 for independence celebrations. (Paul Banks/UNMIS/Reuters) Former child soldier speaks 7:19 Related Stories Gurtong - South Sudan info website (Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external links.) The Republic of South Sudan declared its independence from Sudan on July 9, six months after the people of Southern Sudan voted overwhelmingly to separate from the rest of the country. Also on July 9, the 2005 peace deal that led to the referendum expired. That agreement — between the government of Sudan and southern rebels — ended a civil war that began in 1983.

Since the referendum vote, three conflicts — between rebel groups and Southern Sudanese forces; between Northern and Southern forces in the border region of Abyei; and between the Sudanese army and a pro-Southern group in the Nuba mountains — have claimed over 2,360 lives. The two sides are still negotiating key issues such as citizenship rights, oil rights and border demarcation. Sudan timeline Status: Autonomous region of Sudan. Capital: Juba. President: Salva Kiir Mayardit (since 2005). Location: Bordered by the Central African Republic, Congo, Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia, as well as the northern region of Sudan. Area total: 644,329 sq. km (29% forest). Population: 8,260,490 (Sudan Census, 2008). Population density: 13 per sq. km. Median age: 18 years. Literacy rate: 27% (males 40%; females 16%), persons 15 years and over. Poverty: Half the population live on less than the equivalent of $1 a day.

Livelihood: Crop farming and animal husbandry are the main source of livelihood for 78% of households. Major cash crops: Sorghum, maize, rice, sunflower, cotton, sesame, cassava, beans and peanuts. Cattle: 11,735,000 head in 2009. (Sources include Statistical Yearbook for Southern Sudan 2010 and Poverty in Southern Sudan .) Sudan was a collection of independent kingdoms and principalities until 1820, when Egypt conquered the region and united the disparate territories. Egypt held the area until a revolt in 1885. A religious leader, Muhammad ibn Abdalla, led his followers in a nationalist uprising. His people, called the Mahdi ("expected ones") ruled until 1898 when a joint British-Egyptian force overwhelmed the Mahdists. Sudan was under British-Egyptian administration until 1953, when Britain and Egypt agreed to Sudanese self-government. Sudan became independent on Jan. 1, 1956. The country has yet to experience long-term peace.

The government in the capital, Khartoum, was Arab-led and reneged on promises to southerners, leading to a mutiny by southern army officers. This triggered a 17-year civil war from 1955 to 1972. The war restarted in 1983. Here is a timeline of events from Sudan's independence: 1958 Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Abboud overthrows the government of Prime Minister Ismail al-Azhari in a bloodless coup. 1964 A wave of riots against the authoritarian rule of Abboud forces the military to relinquish power. Parliamentary elections are held in April 1965. Sudan Quick Facts President: Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir. Population: 41.4 million in 2008. Official language: Arabic (mother tongue of half the population). Major religions: Sunni Muslim in the north (70% of Sudan's total population); indigenous beliefs, mostly Christian in the south and Khartoum.

Location: Bordered by the Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya and Uganda Area total: 2.5 million sq. km., the largest country in Africa. Life expectancy: 58 years. Resources: Petroleum, copper, zinc, tungsten, silver, gold, cotton, peanuts, millet, wheat, sugar cane, cassava, mangos, bananas, papaya, sweet potatoes, sesame, sheep. Industries: Textiles, cement, sugar, shoes, pharmaceuticals, light-truck assembly. Trading partners: China, Japan, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, India, Britain, Germany, Indonesia, Australia. 1965-69 A coalition government is formed between the Umma and National Unionist Parties under Prime Minister Muhammad Ahmad Mahjoub. The government is unable to unite the country as it falls into factional fighting, economic stagnation and ethnic skirmishes. May 25, 1969 A military coup is staged by Col. Gaafar Muhammad Nimeiry, who becomes the country's new leader. He abolishes parliament and outlaws all political parties. He installs himself as president.

Nimeiry briefly loses power in July 1971 to the Communist Party, but his rule is restored within days. 1972 The Addis Ababa agreement ends the north-south civil war and establishes the Southern Sudan Autonomous Region. 1983 President Nimeiry institutes traditional Islamic Shariah law. He also declares a state of emergency to make sure Shariah is applied widely. Emergency courts are established. Punishments ranging from amputations for theft to public lashings for alcohol possession become commonplace. In the south, the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), with a political wing, the SPLM, is formed under leader John Garang. Nimeiry's actions spur the SPLA to restart the civil war. September 1984 Nimeiry announces the end of the state of emergency. He dismantles the emergency courts and institutes a new judiciary act that continues the practice of Shariah law. A Sudanese mother tries to feed her severely malnourished child at a feeding centre in Ayod on March 31, 1993. Thousands of Sudanese fled the civil war to Ayod.

((Corinne Dufka/Reuters)) April 1985 Senior military officers mount a coup and suspend the constitution. Gen. Abdel-Rahman Swar ad-Dahab becomes Sudan's new leader. April 1986 Sudan holds its first free elections in 18 years. A new coalition government is led by Sadiq al-Mahdi of the Umma Party as prime minister. Over the next few years, the coalition dissolves and reforms several times, but always with the Umma Party in charge. The civil war continues. August 1998 The U.S. launches a cruise-missile strike against a pharmaceutical complex in Khartoum. June 30, 1989 Women sit under the shade of a large tree on a dry riverbed at a makeshift camp for displaced people near Seleah village in Sudan's West Darfur province in 2004. At the time, the camp was home to thousands of Sudanese who fled their towns and villages. ((Ben Curtis/Associated Press)) Brig.-Gen. (later Lt.-Gen.) Omar al-Bashir leads military officers in a bloodless coup. The move is supported by the National Islamic Front party.

The officers install a Revolutionary Command Council. Al-Bashir becomes president and chief of the armed forces. Fighting between the SPLA and government forces resumes in October. February 1991 The government announces a new penal code with harsh punishments, based on Shariah law. November 1991 In what's known as the Bor massacre, conflicts between SPLA factions lead to the slaughter of at least 2,000 Dinka people in Bor, Southern Sudan. February 1992 Al-Bashir appoints all 300 members of a new transitional National Assembly. 1993 After 10 years, the ongoing civil war has claimed 600,000 lives and displaced millions. January 1994 Two principal rival factions of the SPLA agree on a ceasefire. July 1994 The government announces a unilateral ceasefire. Then the main SPLA faction responds with its own ceasefire. 1995 The SPLA unites with the opposition in the north, including the Umma Party, to create the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The SPLA and partners start an insurgency in the eastern Sudan and northern Blue Nile areas.

1997 The government signs a series of agreements with rebel factions, except the SPLA. Many rebel leaders become part of the government. July 20, 2002 The government and the SPLM reach a historic agreement on the roles of the state and religion and the right of Southern Sudan to self-determination. It's called the Machakos Protocol, after the town in Kenya where peace talks were held. Both sides sign an understanding for a cessation of hostilities. Discussions and further agreements continue through 2004. 2003 Another rebellion starts up in the Darfur region in western Sudan. Residents are mostly black and accuse the government of ignoring the development of the region. Government installations are attacked. Soon, the Janjaweed militias, with air support from the Sudanese government, start attacking villages. Over the next eight years the Darfur conflict would claim 300,000 lives and drive 2.7 million people from their homes.

For subsequent events in Darfur see CBC's "The crisis in Darfur, a timeline." January 2005 The government and southern rebels sign the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, providing for a degree of power-sharing between north and south; limited autonomy for the South for six years then a referendum on independence; equitable distribution of profits from oil fields in the south. More than two million people died in the war. July 2005 Rebel leader John Garang becomes first vice-president of Sudan but is killed in a helicopter crash three weeks later. Oct. 22, 2005 Autonomous government formed in Southern Sudan under new SPLA leader Salva Kiir Mayardit. 2006 Sudan is declared the world's most vulnerable state on a ranking produced by Foreign Policy magazine and the Washington-based Fund for Peace think-tank. August 2007 Nuala Lawlor, the acting chargé d'affaires for Canada in Sudan, and her European Union counterpart are expelled from Sudan. No reason is given, though Sudan's official news agency reported that government officials believed Lawlor had been meddling in Sudan's internal affairs. One week later, Canada expels a Sudanese diplomat as a response to Lawlor's expulsion.

2008 Arab militias and southern Sudanese forces clash in the oil-rich Abyei region in the Spring. Al-Bashir and Salva Kiir agree to international arbitration. 2009 The death toll from violence in Southern Sudan for 2009 reaches 2,000 and another 250,000 people are displaced, according to Doctors without Borders. March 4, 2009 President al-Bashir is indicted on charges by the International Criminal Court in The Hague. The charges had been filed by the ICC prosecutor in July 2008, alleging he orchestrated the violence that has devastated Darfur and left hundreds of thousands dead. Al-Bashir becomes the first sitting head of state to be charged by the ICC. July 22, 2009 The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague rules on the disputed boundary of Abyei, giving an area with an oilfield and its pipeline infrastructure to the north. The governments of Sudan and Southern Sudan said they would respect the ruling. December 2009 Agreement reached on the terms for an independence referendum in Southern Sudan.

April 2010 Al-Bashir wins Sudan's first contested presidential election since 1986. The main opposition parties boycotted the vote. Kiir Mayardit is re-elected president in Southern Sudan. Jan. 9-15, 2011 Voting takes place in the Southern Sudan independence referendum. The independent Southern Sudan Referendum Commission conducted the vote. Besides Sudan, ballots were cast in Canada ( Calgary and Toronto), Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Australia, Britain and the United States. A separate referendum in the oil-rich region of Abyei, which lies along the new border between the two Sudans, is postponed because of violence and instability in the region. Jan. 30, 2011 Southern Sudan's referendum commission announces that 99 per cent of voters in the South opted to secede from the country's North. In northern Sudan, 58 per cent of voters chose secession. In Canada, 97 per cent of Sudanese expatriates who voted chose that option. February 9-10, 2011 One of the most serious battles between the SPLA and rebels claimed over 100 lives in Jonglei state.

In this case, the fighting involved forces loyal to renegade SPLA commander George Athor. Following that battle, many civilians from the town of Phom el-Zeraf died when they fled into a river as Athor forces shot at them. Then in April, SPLA soldiers fired indiscriminately on civilians in Jonglei during an attack on a rival ethnic group, killing or wounding hundreds, according to witness testimony in a confidential U.N. report. June 5, 2011 Fighting erupts between government forces and an SPLA-aligned militia in the Nuba mountains of South Kordofan, which borders the South and is the North's main oil-producing state. Many of the states' residents have long been sympathetic to the South. The 2005 peace agreement promised them "consultations," which have not even been scheduled. Sudanese military planes have bombed civilian areas. More than 70,000 Nuba have fled the region. June 20, 2011 The governments of Sudan and Southern Sudan sign an agreement that calls for the withdrawal of Sudan troops from the disputed border region of Abyei.

A UN-backed peacekeeping force from Ethiopia will be in Abyei until a referendum to decide which part of Sudan its residents will join. Serious fighting had broken out in May , leading more than 140,000 people to flee the region. July 9, 2011 The Republic of South Sudan declares independence, becoming the 54th state in Africa. Sudan Tribune: Plural news and views on Sudan South Sudanese President creates four more states Monday 16 January 2017 January 15, 2017 (JUBA) – South Sudan president Salva Kiir has created for additional states, raising the number of the states in the world’s youngest nation to 32. South Sudanese president Salva Kiir (AFP) The order creating new (...) South Sudan lauds U.S. support against armed opposition Tuesday 17 January 2017 January 16, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudan government Monday has welcomed the decision of the outgoing U.S. President Barrack Obama to stand with countries in the region against armed opposition in South Sudan. South Sudan’s President (...) U.S.

denounces SPLA claims that Troika works for regime change in Juba Tuesday 17 January 2017 January 16, 2017 (JUBA) - The U.S. Embassy in Juba Monday issued a strongly worded statement denying “the reckless allegation” by the SPLA deputy spokesperson claiming that Toika countries are working with the armed opposition to (...) South Sudan’s President fires Central Bank Governor Monday 16 January 2017 January 15, 2017 (JUBA) – South Sudan President Salva Kiir has fired the country’s Central Bank governor, amidst the worsening economic situation in the young nation.

Kornelio Koryom Mayiik (Getty) President Kiir dismissed governor, (...) Continued impunity following grave human rights violations in South Sudan: UN Tuesday 17 January 2017 January 16, 2017 (JUBA) – Grave human rights violations and abuses, including killings and gang rapes as well as serious violations of international humanitarian law were committed in Juba during and after the fighting that occurred (...) South Sudan bans NGOs from operating in rebel-controlled area Sunday 15 January 2017 January 14, 2017 (JUBA) – South Sudan government has banned international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from operating in the rebel-controlled Payinjiar county, according to confidential statement Sudan Tribune has obtained. (...) Kiir urges new Central Bank governor to improve economy Wednesday 18 January 2017 January 17, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudan President Salva Kiir has urged the new Central Bank governor to help improve the deteriorating economic situation in the young nation.

“I want to repeat that don’t disappoint your people, because I (...) Bagari intellectuals demand new counties in Wau state Tuesday 17 January 2017 January 16, 2017 (WAU) – Intellectuals from Bagari, one of the counties in the newly-created state of Wau have petitioned state authorities for the establishment of Bussere payam into a county. This was derived at during a three-day (...) Unity and love essential for South Sudan: ex-VP Alier Sunday 15 January 2017 January 13, 2017 (BOR) - Unity and love for one another among the people of South Sudan and their elected government is essential for success in the country, former Vice-President, Abel Alier Kuai, said. Abel Alier speaking to the (...) S.

Sudan wants new Security Council resolution on protection forces Sunday 15 January 2017 January 14, 2017 (JUBA)- South Sudan says it will only accept the deployment of the United Nations Security Council-authorised regional protection force if a new resolution is passed, arguing that resolution under which the forces were (...) Latest Press Releases Abduction of S. Sudan Chief Justice’s aide illegal, should be condemned 2017-01-16 05:27:50 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 16th January 2015 Legal Watch Associates South Sudan has learned with shock and dismay the abduction of Mr Gama Thomas, an aide to the Chief Justice, Chan Reech Madut.

(...) Carter Center welcomes new regulations on humanitarian affairs 2017-01-12 07:53:16 The Carter Center ATLANTA, Januarg 11, 2017 – The Carter Center welcomes the recent regulations issued by the government of Sudan aimed at facilitating humanitarian relief throughout the country (...) Nertiti massacre in Central Darfur exposes the criminal nature of Bashir’s regime 2017-01-03 11:54:47 Sudan Democracy First Group Nirtiti massacre in Central Darfur exposes the criminal nature of Bashir's regime 2 January 2017 On the first day of 2016, and only one day after President Bashir's (...) South Sudan - Mr.Rungsun Klinkaeo 283 Mr.Rungsun Klinkaeo 283 edited by Mr. Rungsun Klinkaeo comment from Mr. Rungsun Klinkaeo Mr. Rungsun Klinkaeo University South Sudan South Sudan South Sudan South Sudan officially the Republic of South Sudan, is a landlocked country in northeastern Africa that gained its independence from Sudan in 2011.

Its current capital is Juba, which is also its largest city. It is planned that the capital city will be changed to the more centrally located Ramciel in the future. South Sudan is bordered by the Republic of the Sudan to the north, Ethiopia to the east, Kenya to the southeast, Uganda to the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the southwest, and the Central African Republic to the west. It includes the vast swamp region of the Sudd, formed by the White Nile and known locally as the Bahr al Jabal. The territories of modern South Sudan and the Republic of the Sudan were occupied by Egypt under the Muhammad Ali Dynasty, and later governed as an Anglo-Egyptian condominium until Sudanese independence was achieved in 1956. Following the First Sudanese Civil War, the Southern Sudan Autonomous Region was formed in 1972 and lasted until 1983. A second Sudanese civil war soon developed and ended with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005. Later that year, southern autonomy was restored when an Autonomous Government of Southern Sudan was formed.

South Sudan became an independent state on 9 July 2011, following a referendum that passed with a member state of the African Union, and a member state of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development. In July 2012, South Sudan signed the Geneva Conventions. South Sudan has suffered internal conflict since its independence. South Sudan

Question: Juba is the capital of what autonomous African region that became an independent country on 9th July, 2011?
Answer: South Sudan