South Sudan declares independence

South Sudan declares independence

JUBA, South Sudan - South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit (L) and Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir (C) attend a ceremony to declare the official independence of the Republic of South Sudan in Juba on July 9, 2011. South Sudan became the 54th state in Africa and is expected to be approved as the 193rd member state of the United Nations by the U.N. General Assembly in the following week.

South Sudan declares independence

South Sudan declares independence

JUBA, South Sudan - People celebrate the independence of the Republic of South Sudan at the venue of a ceremony to declare the country's official independence from Sudan in Juba on July 9, 2011. South Sudan became the 54th state in Africa and is expected to be approved as the 193rd member state of the United Nations by the U.N. General Assembly in the following week.

South Sudan declares independence

South Sudan declares independence

JUBA, South Sudan - People celebrate the independence of the Republic of South Sudan at the venue of a ceremony to declare the country's official independence from Sudan in Juba on July 9, 2011. South Sudan became the 54th state in Africa and is expected to be approved as the 193rd member state of the United Nations by the U.N. General Assembly in the following week. (Kyodo)

South Sudan declares independence

South Sudan declares independence

JUBA, South Sudan - South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit (L) and Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir (C) attend a ceremony to declare the official independence of the Republic of South Sudan in Juba on July 9, 2011. South Sudan became the 54th state in Africa and is expected to be approved as the 193rd member state of the United Nations by the U.N. General Assembly in the following week. (Kyodo)