| | '''Southern Sudan''' (or Arabic: جنوب السودان, Janūb as-Sūdān), officially known as the Government of South Sudan is formerly part of the '''Republic of the Sudan'''. Following a referendum in January 2011, the region became an independent state in July 2011. One area is still disputed by North and South [[Sudan]], province of Abyei is rich in natural resources which both sides claim. The Darfur region is the South's northern border. Northern Sudan and [[Muslim]] militias talk of retaking the mostly [[Christian]] South. The region's autonomous status is a condition of a peace agreement between the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army and the Government of Sudan represented by the National Congress Party ending the Second Sudanese Civil War. The conflict was [[Africa]]'s longest running civil war. | | '''Southern Sudan''' (or Arabic: جنوب السودان, Janūb as-Sūdān), officially known as the Government of South Sudan is formerly part of the '''Republic of the Sudan'''. Following a referendum in January 2011, the region became an independent state in July 2011. One area is still disputed by North and South [[Sudan]], province of Abyei is rich in natural resources which both sides claim. The Darfur region is the South's northern border. Northern Sudan and [[Muslim]] militias talk of retaking the mostly [[Christian]] South. The region's autonomous status is a condition of a peace agreement between the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army and the Government of Sudan represented by the National Congress Party ending the Second Sudanese Civil War. The conflict was [[Africa]]'s longest running civil war. |
| | Southern Sudan officially consists of the ten states which formerly composed the three historic Provinces of Bahr el Ghazal, Equatoria, and Upper Nile. The region contains abundant natural resources; petroleum, iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold, and hydropower. South Sudan also exports timber to the international market. 85% of petro is produced within Southern Sudan. <ref>[http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Southern_Sudan Southern Sudan, absoluteastronomy.com]</ref> | | Southern Sudan officially consists of the ten states which formerly composed the three historic Provinces of Bahr el Ghazal, Equatoria, and Upper Nile. The region contains abundant natural resources; petroleum, iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold, and hydropower. South Sudan also exports timber to the international market. 85% of petro is produced within Southern Sudan. <ref>[http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Southern_Sudan Southern Sudan, absoluteastronomy.com]</ref> |