South Sudan becomes newest nation
8 July 2011 Last updated at 22:24 BST
South Sudan has become the world's newest nation, its neighbour to the north being the first to officially recognise the new country.
Sudan had been wrought by decades of conflict between the regions until the 2005 peace deal raised the prospect of independence.
But while the new nation is oil-rich and optimistic, it is one of the least-developed in the world and extremely poor following the long conflict.
Will Ross reports from South Sudan.