South Sudan Becomes Independent; More Work Ahead

Southern Sudan has become the world's newest country on Saturday (local time), as it declared its independence.

In anticipation of a difficult transition to a state, the United Nations has authorized 7,000 troops and sent 900 police officers on Friday to help bring peace to the nation ravaged by war news. The UN resolution was drafted by the United States and approved by the Security Council of the United Nations by a vote of 15-0.

Southern Sudan has been in a civil war with its northern counterpart, its second since Sudan became a nation, since the mid-1980s. The split was in part along religious lines. Northern Sudan is predominantly Muslim, while the South is predominantly Christian and animist. Southern Sudan has sought independence, in part, on its objections to be ruled by Sharia law.

Christian groups and celebrities such as Bono and George Clooney have been influential in attracting international attention to the civil war in Sudan, particularly over the last decade. Samaritan Purse, a Christian relief organization, was one of the organizations deeply involved to help alleviate the suffering caused by war. Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan's Purse, noted the unusual coalitions involved to help southern Sudan in an interview with Foreign Policy magazine.