South Sudan Will Become World's Newest Country

Earlier this year, Southern Sudanese voted on whether they should separate from Sudan and declare independence or stay united. The Referendum results show that 98.83% of the Southern Sudanese population voted for independence.

Sudan has largest number of internally displaced persons

	On July 9, Sudan will split into two countries - Sudan and South Sudan.

July 9 marks exactly six years since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan’s People Liberation Movement (SPLM) in 2005. This peace deal ended a civil war that lasted for over 20 years.

In fact, Sudan has been torn by war since 1955, before Sudan’s independence from British rule on January 1, 1956. That civil war lasted until 1972.

More than two million people have lost their lives in Southern Sudan due to war-
related causes. It is also estimated that Sudan has approximately 4.9 million internally displaced persons (IDP’s) making it the largest number of IDPs in any other country in the world.

New start, new symbols

	South Sudan's new flag has one star to stand for the unity of the new nation and its diverse ethnic tribes.

Just as Americans proudly sing the “Star-Spangled Banner" as the national anthem of
the United States of America, the new Republic of Southern Sudan has announced its
official new national anthem named “South Sudan Oyee!” (“South Sudan Hooray!”). The lyrics describe South Sudan’s history, people, land and resources.

The new flag of South Sudan represents the Southern Sudanese people’s aspirations by exemplifying the people (black), the yearning for peace (white), the bloodshed for freedom (red), the land (green) and the waters of the Nile (blue).

While The 13 stripes in the American flag represent the original 13 colonies and the 50 stars represent the 50 states, South Sudan's flag displays one gold star that represents the unity of the states of South Sudan as well as its diverse ethnic tribes.

Another symbol that represents a national identity is a national emblem. Similar to the U.S., The Republic of South Sudan has also chosen an eagle to represent its nation. Instead of the Bald Eagle, South Sudan has chosen an African Fish Eagle that signifies strength, resilience and vision. It will be used on all legal documents, passports and identity cards issued by the Republic of South Sudan.

Newest country faces many challenges

	Many people in Sudan live in large refugee camps because they are fleeing violence. Often those camps lack basic necessities.

While people from Southern Sudan living here in the U.S and elsewhere around the world are euphoric, many realize the hard work ahead in building the new nation.

South Sudan lacks basic services such as health care, education, and reliable transportation and suffers from widespread poverty and a lack of functioning institutions.

In addition, tension is high around the border with the north, and many details have to be worked out regarding where to draw the border lines, rules of citizenship, who should pay for the national debt and who owns the rights to oil fields and other natural resources.

Sudanese government uses violence to maintain control

	Sudan's president Omar al-Bashir faces war crimes charges for his role in the deadly Darfur conflict in northern Sudan.

Meanwhile, fighting has broken out in the northern territory as the government, dominated by a minority of Arab leaders, tries to keep a firm grip across land that holds African and Christian groups who want independence and democracy. 
Reports from the Nuba Mountains describe government forces and allied fighters burning churches and executing village elders.  Children with shrapnel wounds are filling hospitals and thousands huddle in caves as government fighter jets and bombers prowl the skies.

The United Nations has warned of a humanitarian catastrophe similar to what happened in the western Sudanese region of Darfur seven years ago.  Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir is facing war crime charges in the International Criminal Court for that conflict.