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'''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 is due to become 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>