July 8, 2011, Juba: South Sudan became the world’s newest country early Saturday, officially breaking away from Sudan after two civil wars over five decades that cost the lives of at least two million people.
Residents of the new Republic of South Sudan danced in the streets, banged on jerry cans and chanted the name of the world’s newest president, Salva Kiir.
South Sudan earned independence at 12:01 a.m. Saturday (5:01 p.m. EDT Friday), the culmination of a January independence vote guaranteed in a 2005 peace deal that ended the most recent north-south war.
The 193rd country recognized by the United Nations and the 54th UN member state in Africa, South Sudan is one of the poorest and least-developed places on earth. Unresolved problems between the south and its former foe to the north could mean new conflict along the new international border, advocates and diplomats warn.
The young government faces the huge challenge of reforming its bloated and often predatory army, diversifying its oil-based economy, and deciding how political power will be distributed among the dozens of ethnic and military factions. It must also begin delivering basic needs such as education, health services, water and electricity to its more than 8 million citizens.
A draft constitution passed this week lays the groundwork for President Kiir and the legislature, who were elected last year, to serve out their five-year terms. The legislature’s few opposition lawmakers are unhappy with the draft, but it now serves as an interim constitution until multiparty elections are held.
Guests for the country’s inauguration include UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice and General Carter Ham, commander of the U.S. Africa Command. Sudan President Omar al-Bashir, a deeply unpopular man in Juba, also is expected.
A $1 billion yearly UN peacekeeping mission with a 10,000-member peacekeeping force has monitored implementation of the 2005 peace deal. The mission has drawn criticism for its failure to protect Sudanese civilians caught in violence along the north-south border and in the south, where conflict has killed nearly 2,400 people this year alone.
The UN Security Council on Friday unanimously approved a new peacekeeping force for South Sudan, authorizing the deployment of up to 7,000 military personnel and 900 international police, plus an unspecified number of U.N. civilian staff including human rights experts. ref: AP
