South Sudan .
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South Sudan Birth of a Nation by J.B. Russell Sudan's civil war was fueled by a mixture of religion, ideology, oil and ethnicity and was one of the longest lasting and deadliest conflicts of the later 20th century. After a referendum on independence, one of the provisions in the conflict's Comprehensive Peace Agreement, Southern Sudan seceded from the North on July 9th, 2011 and became the Republic of South Sudan - the world's newest nation. While the nascent country faces enormous challenges, including a total lack of infrastructure, corruption, unexploded remnants of war, inter-tribal violence and on-going tensions with the North, the independence ceremonies were steeped in joy and celebration - redemption for a people who have suffered immeasurably. A boy walks through a Mundari cattle camp in Central Equatoria Province. The tribe suffered from inter- tribal conflicts and cattle rustling in the northern part of the province forcing them to move further south in search of safer grazing land.  Kuruki, South Sudan. All photos © J.B. Russell Mundari herdsmen at a cattle camp in Central Equatoria Province. Kuruki, South Sudan. Mundari herdsmen at a cattle camp in Central Equatoria Province. Kuruki, South Sudan. The Djinima community is situated just next to a large minefield near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo in Central Equatoria province.  Morobo, South Sudan. Angelo Lokidor, a landmine accident survivor, who found an anti-personnel land mine on a road. When he tried to move the mine off the road to prevent others from stepping on it, his hands caught on a trip wire and the mine exploded. He lost both hands, sustained serious injury to his skull, lost sight in one eye and has hearing problems.   Kapoeta, South Sudan. Members of the Mines Adivsory Group (MAG) MAT 2 Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) team preparing a controlled demolition of a weapons stockpile found in a container in the middle of a village. Pageri, South Sudan. School children evacuate into a field behind their school while an Explosive Ordinance Disposal team from Mines Advisory Group (MAG) prepares to destroy a PM1 cluster sub munition found in the entrance of the school.  Iriya, South Sudan. Transport vehicles overturned and stuck in the mud along a road washed out by rains in Central Equatoria province. Decades of civil war have left the infrastructure of South Sudan in ruins.  Liggi, South Sudan. Church goers sing and pray at a Sunday service in a neighborhood church. The majority of Southern Sudanese are Christian or Animists as opposed to Muslim North Sudan.  Yei, South Sudan. Members of a church group sing as they parade through the streets on a Sunday morning. Yei, Southern Sudan. School children learning the new national anthem in preparation for South Sudan's declaration of independenace on July 9, 2011.  Iriya, South Sudan. Just before midnight on the eve of independence, Southern Sudanese begin celebrating in the streets of the capital city.  Juba, South Sudan. After decades of conflict, Southern Sudan declared independence from the North on July 9th, 2011. People came to the John Garang Memorial in the capital from all over the country, many in traditional dress, to sing, dance, play music and celebrate the historic occasion.  Juba, South Sudan.
After decades of conflict, Southern Sudan declared independence from the North on July 9th, 2011. Juba, South Sudan. Southern Sudanese climb a tree at the John Garang Memorial in the capital city to see the official independence ceremony on July 9th, 2011.  Juba, South Sudan. His Excellency General Salva Kiir, the president of South Sudan and commander in chief of the SPLA arriving at the official independence day ceremony. After decades of conflict, Southern Sudan declared independence from the North on July 9th, 2011. Government officials, foreign dignitaries and ordinary people came to the John Garang Memorial in the capital from all over the country and the world to celebrate the historic occasion.  Juba, South Sudan. President Salva Kiir holding up the transitional constitution after signing it at the official independence day ceremony.  Juba, South Sudan. Southern Sudanese begin celebrating in the streets of the capital on the day before South Sudan declares independence from the North.  Juba, South Sudan.