South Sudan

===Independence (2011)===
[[File:A South Sudanese girl at independence festivities (5926735716).jpg|thumb|upright|A South Sudanese girl at independence festivities]]

Between 9 and 15 January 2011, as a consequence of the [[Comprehensive Peace Agreement]], [[Southern Sudanese independence referendum, 2011|a referendum]] was held to determine whether South Sudan should become an independent country, separate from Sudan. Following that, 98.83% of those who took part in the referendum voted for separation or independence.<ref>{{cite news|work=USA Today|title=Over 99 pct in Southern Sudan vote for secession|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/topstories/2011-01-30-2052877353_x.htm|access-date=30 January 2011|date=30 January 2011|first=Maggie|last=Fick|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110202151710/http://www.usatoday.com/news/topstories/2011-01-30-2052877353_x.htm|archive-date=2 February 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> And on 23 January 2011, members of a steering committee on post-independence governing told reporters that upon independence the land would be named the Republic of South Sudan "out of familiarity and convenience". Other names that had been considered were [[Azania]], Nile Republic, [[Kingdom of Kush|Kush]] Republic and even Juwama, a [[portmanteau]] for [[Juba (Southern Sudan)|Juba]], [[Wau, Sudan|Wau]] and [[Malakal]], three major cities.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/24/world/africa/24sudan.html|title=Southern Sudan Nears a Decision on One Matter: Its New Name|author=Kron, Josh|date=23 January 2011|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> South Sudan formally became independent from Sudan on 9 July, although certain disputes still remained, including the division of oil revenues, as 75% of all the former Sudan's oil reserves are in South Sudan.<ref>{{cite news|work=BBC News|title=South Sudan profile|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14069082|access-date=14 February 2014|date=8 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140214043200/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14069082|archive-date=14 February 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> The region of [[Abyei]] still remains disputed and a separate referendum will be held in Abyei on whether they want to join Sudan or South Sudan.<ref>{{cite news|title=99.57% of Southern Sudanese vote yes to independence|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12317927|access-date=30 January 2011|date=30 January 2011|work=BBC News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110130081322/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12317927|archive-date=30 January 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[South Kordofan conflict]] broke out in June 2011 between the [[Sudan People's Armed Forces|Army of Sudan]] and the SPLA over the [[Nuba Mountains]].

On 9 July 2011, South Sudan became the 54th independent country in Africa<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-14089843 South Sudan becomes an independent nation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010213502/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-14089843|date=10 October 2018}}, BBC News.</ref> (9 July is now celebrated as [[List of national independence days|Independence Day]], a national holiday<ref>{{Cite web|title=South Sudan|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/south-sudan/|access-date=7 July 2021|website=CIA World Factbook}}</ref>) and since 14 July 2011, South Sudan is the 193rd member of the [[United Nations]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2011/07/381552|title=UN welcomes South Sudan as 193rd Member State|date=14 July 2011|website=UN News|access-date=31 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190128123134/https://news.un.org/en/story/2011/07/381552|archive-date=28 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> On 27 July 2011, South Sudan became the 54th country to join the [[African Union]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.au.int/en/content/african-union-welcomes-south-sudan-54th-member-state-union|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812031145/http://www.au.int/en/content/african-union-welcomes-south-sudan-54th-member-state-union|url-status=dead|title=au.int: ''African Union Welcomes South Sudan as the 54th Member State of the Union''|archive-date=12 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=5 January 2011|title=The LRA and Sudan|work=[[Al Jazeera English]]|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/peopleandpower/2011/01/20111585750480428.html|url-status=live|access-date=3 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318090401/http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/peopleandpower/2011/01/20111585750480428.html|archive-date=18 March 2015}}</ref> In September 2011, [[Google Maps]] recognized South Sudan as an independent country, after a massive crowdsourcing mapping initiative was launched.<ref>{{Cite web|last=PiersDillonScott|date=17 September 2011|title=Google Maps officially recognises South Sudan as an independent country|url=https://sociable.co/web/google-maps-officially-recognises-south-sudan-as-an-independent-country/|access-date=11 March 2021|website=The Sociable|language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2011 it was reported that South Sudan was at war with at least seven armed groups in 9 of its 10 states, with tens of thousands displaced.<ref name="rebellion">{{cite news|title=South Sudan army kills fighters in clashes|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/04/2011424145446998235.html|publisher=Al Jazeera English|date=24 April 2011|access-date=26 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429090553/http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/04/2011424145446998235.html|archive-date=29 April 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> The fighters accuse the government of plotting to stay in power indefinitely, not fairly representing and supporting all tribal groups while neglecting development in rural areas.<ref name="rebellion" /><ref name="AP">{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/news/world/africa/articles/2011/06/02/hundreds_of_civilian_casualties_in_s_sudan_battle/|title=Civilians dead in South Sudan battle|agency=Associated Press|date=2 June 2011|author1=Fick, Maggie|author2=Straziuso, Jason|name-list-style=amp|access-date=3 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203063545/http://www.boston.com/news/world/africa/articles/2011/06/02/hundreds_of_civilian_casualties_in_s_sudan_battle/|archive-date=3 December 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Lord's Resistance Army]] (LRA) also operates in a wide area that includes South Sudan.

Inter-ethnic warfare in some cases predates the war of independence and is widespread. In December 2011, [[Ethnic violence in South Sudan#Murle-Nuer fighting|tribal clashes]] intensified between the [[Nuer White Army]] of the [[Luo peoples|Lou]] [[Nuer people|Nuer]] and the [[Murle people|Murle]].<ref name="aljazeera2">{{cite news|title=Thousands flee South Sudan tribal conflict|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2012/01/201212101840599359.html|work=[[Al Jazeera English]]|date=3 January 2012|access-date=3 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120102152458/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2012/01/201212101840599359.html|archive-date=2 January 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> The White Army warned it would wipe out the Murle and would also fight South Sudanese and [[United Nations Mission in South Sudan|UN forces]] sent to the area around [[Pibor]].<ref name="Bloomberg">{{cite news|title=United Nations urges South Sudan to Help Avert Possible Attack|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-27/united-nations-urges-south-sudan-to-help-avert-possible-attack.html|work=[[Bloomberg Television]]|date=27 December 2011|access-date=3 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214130705/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-27/united-nations-urges-south-sudan-to-help-avert-possible-attack.html|archive-date=14 February 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

In March 2012, South Sudanese forces seized the [[Heglig]] oil fields in lands claimed by both Sudan and South Sudan in the province of [[South Kordofan]] after [[2012 South Sudan–Sudan border conflict|conflict with Sudanese forces]] in the South Sudanese state of [[Unity (state)|Unity]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17515209|title=Sudan and South Sudan in fierce oil border clashes|publisher=BBC News Africa|date=27 March 2012|access-date=27 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181109224240/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17515209|archive-date=9 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> South Sudan withdrew on 20 March, and the Sudanese Army entered Heglig two days later.