The United States on Saturday officially recognized the independent government of South Sudan, which official came into existence on Saturday after a ceremony in the new country's capital of Juba. In a statement, President Barack H. Obama said that “today is a reminder that after the darkness of war, the light of a new dawn is possible. A proud flag flies over Juba and the map of the world has been redrawn. After so much struggle by the people of South Sudan, the United States of America welcomes the birth of a new nation.”

Some 2 million people died in a lengthy civil war that extended from 1983 to 2005, culminating in a peace deal that led to the country's independence.