ReliefWeb

South Sudan Becomes the World’s Newest Nation

On July 9, the Republic of South Sudan declared its independence, marking the culmination of the six-year Interim Period laid out in the landmark 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended Sudan’s long civil war. Independence was a result of the January 2011 referendum that gave the people of South Sudan the opportunity to democratically choose their future. Nearly 99 percent of those who voted chose secession.

In support of the United States’ goal of promoting peace in Sudan,
USAID provided comprehensive assistance to help carry out the referendum, including technical and material assistance, civic and voter education, and support for domestic and international observation of the process. USAID also funded out-of-country registration and voting in the eight diaspora countries where voting took place. At July 9 Independence Day ceremonies, South Sudan unveiled its new flag and national anthem, swore in its first President, Salva Kiir Mayardit, and approved the country’s transitional constitution.