South Sudan becomes an independent nation

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14089843

8 July 2011 Last updated at 19:19 ET

South Sudan becomes an independent nation

The BBC's Will Ross describes the celebrations in the capital Juba

South Sudan has become the world's newest nation, the climax of a process made

possible by the 2005 peace deal that ended a long and bloody civil war.

Sudan's President al-Bashir and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon are among

international dignitaries attending celebrations in the capital, Juba.

Sudan earlier became the first state to officially recognise its new neighbour.

The south's independence follows decades of conflict with the north in which

some 1.5 million people died.

Celebrations in Juba began at midnight (2100 GMT). A countdown clock in the city

centre reached zero and the new national anthem was played on television.

South Sudan became the 193rd country recognised by the UN and the 54th UN member

state in Africa.

The BBC's Will Ross in Juba says the new country's problems have been put aside

for the night amid an air of great jubilation.

People were in the streets, cheering, waving South Sudan flags, banging drums

and chanting the name of President Salva Kiir Mayardit, he adds.

A formal independence ceremony is due to be held later on Saturday.

The Speaker of the South Sudan Legislative Assembly, Wani Igga, is

expected to read out the Proclamation of the Independence of South Sudan at 1145

(0845 GMT). Minutes later Sudan's national flag will be lowered and the new flag

of South Sudan will be raised.

In addition to Mr Bashir and Mr Ban, attendees will include former US Secretary

of State Colin , the US permanent representative to the UN, Rice,

and the head of the US military's Africa Command, Gen Ham.

Under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, a referendum was held on independence,

which was favoured by more than 99% of voters.

The new country is rich in oil, but one of the least developed countries in the

world, where one in seven children dies before the age of five.

Unresolved disputes between the north and south, particularly over the new

border, have also raised the possibility of renewed conflict.

On Friday, Sudan's Minister of Presidential Affairs, Bakri Hassan Saleh,

announced that it recognised " the Republic of South Sudan as an independent

state, according to the borders existing on 1 January 1956 " , when Sudan gained

independence from Britain.

'Southern brothers'

President Bashir, who agreed the 2005 peace deal with the Sudan People's

Liberation Army (SPLA), stressed his country's " readiness to work with our

southern brothers and help them set up their state so that, God willing, this

state will be stable and develop " .

" The co-operation between us will be excellent, particularly when it comes to

marking and preserving the border so there is a movement of citizens and goods

via this border, " he told journalists in Khartoum.

Fears of fresh conflict resurfaced after recent fighting in two border areas,

Abyei and South Kordofan, which forced some 170,000 people from their homes.

But separate deals - and the withdrawal of rival forces from the border - have

calmed tensions.

The UN Security Council has passed a resolution approving a new 7,000-strong

peacekeeping force for South Sudan - but this is basically a rebranding of the

force which was already in Sudan, mostly in the south.

Khartoum has said its mandate would not be renewed, leading the US to argue that

the 1,000 UN troops should be allowed to remain in South Kordofan. The 1,000

troops in the disputed town of Abyei are to be replaced by 4,200 Ethiopian

soldiers.

Our correspondent says keeping both the north and the south stable long after

the celebratory parties have ended will be a mighty challenge.

The two sides must still decide on issues such as drawing up the new border and

how to divide Sudan's debts and oil wealth.

Analysts say the priority for Khartoum will be to negotiate a favourable deal on

oil revenue, as most oilfields lie in the south. At present, the revenues are

being shared equally.

Khartoum has some leverage, as most of the oil pipelines flow north to Port

Sudan on the Red Sea.

Citizenship is also a key issue which has not yet been decided.

A new law passed by the National Assembly in Khartoum has withdrawn Sudanese

citizenship from all southerners.

The UN refugee agency (UNCHR), has urged both governments to prevent

statelessness.