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While the Republic of South Sudan celebrates independence as the world’s newest nation, the rest of Sudan remains a chronically unstable state which requires a new international strategy to avert further bloodshed, according to the latest report from the Enough Project, “Rethinking Sudan After Southern Secession.” ...

The international community’s robust push for southern independence, while successful, has been the continuation of a long-standing piecemeal approach to Sudan that addresses the symptoms, rather than the root causes of the country’s conflicts. Less has been said of the fragility and potential for mass conflict that exists in what will be left of Sudan itself, and the policy changes needed to address this reality ...

“South Sudan Oyee!! South Sudan Oyee!” The joyful call and response of cheers for the world’s newest nation filled the entire Washington, D.C., street last Saturday morning. Members of the South Sudan community and diaspora gathered in front of the new Embassy of the Republic of South Sudan for a morning full of dancing, clapping, singing, and widespread embraces to welcome their new nation ...

“I’ve got 99 problems but Bashir ain’t one” is emblazoned on t-shirts for sale in the capital of the brand-new country of South Sudan, which officially gained its independence from the North on Saturday. Even before Sudan gained independence from the United Kingdom and Egypt in 1956, civil war had broken out between the North and South, where rebels rose up to protest the region’s marginalization. Decades and 2 million deaths later, the South is now independent. The weekend was jubilant — from midnight on Friday when crowds filled the streets waving South Sudan flags, through the official declaration ceremony ...

The mood was festive in South Sudan's capital as southerners – many who traveled long distances to take part in the long-awaited historic day – declared their independence this weekend. After decades of civil war, the secession stirred up raw emotions and an outpouring of patriotism. The Enough Project's Tim Freccia captured the sights and sounds of the celebration in Juba ...

After a 56-year struggle, South Sudan has a country of its own. Thousands upon thousands of people gathered starting early this morning at the memorial for Dr. John Garang, the late rebel leader, where workers have been building and cleaning day and night to ready the dusty open space for the huge celebration. Flag-festooned Range Rovers and Mercedes delivered dozens of heads of states, including Kenya’s Mwai Kibaki, Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe, South Africa’s Jacob Zuma, to the festivities. After hours of sitting in the blistering sun, the crowd seemed newly energized – erupting in cheers and chants of “Republic of ...

JUBA, South Sudan – Luol Deng just went toe to toe with Lebron James in a hard-fought five-game playoff battle. Deng’s Chicago Bulls lost the series giving him an early off-season. But instead of heading to the Caribbean to rest his weary limbs, he is here in the capital of South Sudan helping his countrymen celebrate the birth of their very own nation ...

This Saturday, South Sudanese around the world will exuberantly celebrate the birth of the new country of South Sudan. Concerted international diplomacy, including the robust efforts of the Obama administration, helped pave the way for this moment, the culmination of a 2005 peace agreement brokered by the international community between the Sudanese government and what was then the southern rebel movement, the SPLM/A, to end two decades of war. But even as the arrival of South Sudan on the world stage is evidence of a diplomatic success, the insecurity that has proliferated in both the North and the South is ...

As we observe this week’s festivities welcoming South Sudan into the community of nations, we cannot lose sight of the humanitarian crisis and possible war crimes ongoing in Sudan’s South Kordofan state, writes Congressman Hank Johnson (D-GA) in this guest blog post ...

As final preparations are underway for South Sudan’s Independence Day on July 9, media outlets from around the world are preparing to cover this historical event. Due to the complex history and continuing conflict in the area, the Enough Project has created a media backgrounder on South Sudan. We intend it to be used as a tool for journalists and bloggers who do not have extensive knowledge of the region and need to quickly get up to speed ...