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===Rebellions===
South Sudan is at war with at least seven armed groups.<ref name=rebellion>{{cite webnews |title=South Sudan army kills fighters in clashes |url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/04/2011424145446998235.html |titlework=South[[Al SudanJazeera armyEnglish]] kills|date=24 fightersApril in2011 clashes|publisher=Aljazeera.net/english|accessdate=26 April 2011-04-26}}</ref> According to UN figures, the various conflicts affect nine of its ten states, with tens of thousands displaced.<ref name=rebellion/> The fighters accuse the government of plotting to stay in power indefinitely, not fairly representing and supporting all tribal groups while neglecting development in rural areas.<ref name=rebellion/><ref name=AP>{{cite web|url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iGjG9whhCv3fK2pUQK5m9HkvOFig?docId=8760bf3cf28f4230838f7a530d928a4e|title=Civilians dead in South Sudan battle|publisher=Associated Press|accessdate=8 June 2011-06-08}}</ref>
In the SPLA/M's attempt to disarm rebellions among the [[Shilluk people|Shilluk]] and [[Murle people|Murle]] during the [[Government of Southern Sudan (2005-2011)|second period of autonomy]], they burned scores of villages, raped hundreds of women and girls and killed an untold number of civilians.<ref name=aljazeera>{{cite webnews |title=Sudan: Transcending tribe |url=http://english.aljazeera.net/photo_galleries/africa/201111010324526960.html |titlework=Sudan:[[Al TranscendingJazeera English]] tribe|publisherdate=Aljazeera.net/english |accessdate=30 April 2011-04-30}}</ref> Civilians alleging [[torture]] claim fingernails been torn out, burning plastic bags dripped on children to make their parents hand over weapons and villagers burned alive in their huts if rebels were suspected of spending the night there.<ref name=aljazeera/> In May 2011, the SPLA allegedly set fire to over 7,000 homes in [[Unity State]].<ref name=sudantribune>{{cite webnews |title=SPLA set fire to over 7,000 homes in Unity says Mayom county official |first= |last= |url=http://www.sudantribune.com/SPLA-set-fire-to-over-7-000-homes,39010 |titlework=SPLA[[Sudan setTribune]] fire|date=24 toMay more2011 than 7000 homes in Unity says Mayom country official|publisher=sudantribune.com|accessdate=9 July 2011-08-06}}</ref> The UN reports many of these violations and the frustrated director of one [[Juba]]-based international aid agency calls them "human rights abuses off the Richter scale".<ref name=aljazeera/> In 2010, the [[CIA]] issued a warning that "over the next five years,...a new mass killing or genocide is most likely to occur in southern Sudan."<ref name=aljazeera/>
=== Independence referendum ===
{{Main|Southern Sudanese independence referendum, 2011}}
[[Image:Southern Sudanese independence referendum voting form 2011.svg|thumb|right|250px|Voting form used in the referendum.]]
From 9–15 January 2011 people from South Sudan voted on whether they should break away from Sudan and declare independence. On 30 January 2011, the results had shown that 98.83% of the population had voted for independence from Sudan.<ref>{{cite news|last=|first=USA Today|title=Over 99 pct in Southern Sudan vote for secession |first=Maggie |last=Fick |url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/topstories/2011-01-30-2052877353_x.htm |accessdatework=[[USA Today]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=30 January 2011 |dateaccessdate=30 January 2011}}</ref> It is expected that a formal declaration of independence will be made on 9 July finally ensuring that South Sudan will become an independent state, although certain disputes still remain such as sharing of the oil revenues as an estimated 80% of the oil in the nation is from South Sudan, which would represent amazing economic potential for one of the world's most deprived areas. The region of [[Abyei]] still remains disputed and a separate referendum is due to be held in Abyei on whether they want to join North or South Sudan.<ref>{{cite news|last=BBC News|first=|title="99.57%South ofSudan Southernreferendum: Sudanese99% vote yes tofor independence" |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12317927 |accessdatework=[[BBC News]] |date=30 January 2011 |dateaccessdate=30 January 2011}}</ref>
===South Kordofan conflict===
On 6 June 2011 armed conflict broke out between the forces of Northern and Southern Sudan, ahead of the scheduled independence of the South on 9 July. This followed an agreement for both sides to withdraw from [[Abyei]].
By late June, several international interlocutors including the [[United Nations]] advanced a proposal to base 4,200 [[Ethiopia]]n soldiers in Abyei to serve as peacekeepers.<ref>{{Citecite news |title=Sudan: Over 4,000 Ethiopian Troops for Abyei Peace Mission |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201106272108.html |agencywork=[[AllAfrica.com]] |date=27 June 2011 |accessdate=8 July 2011|title=Sudan: Over 4,000 Ethiopian Troops for Abyei Peace Mission}}</ref>
==Independence==
[[File:Flag of the SPLAM.svg|thumb|250px|Flag of the Republic of South Sudan]]
On midnight on 9 July 2011, South Sudan became an independent country under the name '''Republic of South Sudan'''. It is set to become the 193rd [[Member states of the United Nations|member state]] of the [[United Nations]].<ref>{{cite news |title=South Sudan Begins Countdown To Independence (PHOTOS) |first= |last= |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/08/south-sudan-countdown-independence-_n_893278.html#s303574&title=The_Peace_Deal |agencywork=[[The Huffington Post]] |date=8 July 2011 |accessdate=8 July 2011|title=South Sudan Begins Countdown To Independence (PHOTOS)}}</ref>
==References==
{{DEFAULTSORT:History Of South Sudan}}
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[[Category:History of South Sudan| ]]
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