A crowd watches the independence ceremony of South Sudan from a tree in a field in Juba, South Sudan, on July 9, 2011. South Sudan celebrated its first day as an independent nation Saturday, raising its flag for the first time before tens of thousands of cheering citizens elated to reach the end of a 50-year struggle.. (AP Photo/Andrew Burton)
South Sudan President Salva Kiir lifts South Sudan’s new constitution to the crowds of people attending an independence ceremony in Juba, South Sudan, on Saturday July 9, 2011. (AP Photo/Andrew Burton)
A woman prays as she holds a South Sudan flag and cross at the base of a statue of Dr. John Garang de Mabior, leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army, before the independence ceremony of South Sudan in Juba, South Sudan, on Saturday July 9, 2011. (AP Photo/Andrew Burton)
South Sudan President Salva Kiir arrives at the independence ceremony of South Sudan in Juba, South Sudan, on Saturday July 9, 2011. South Sudan celebrated its first day as an independent nation Saturday, raising its flag for the first time before tens of thousands of cheering citizens elated to reach the end of a 50-year struggle. (AP Photo/Andrew Burton)
A man waits to climb into a tree to watch the independence ceremony of the Republic of South Sudan in Juba, South Sudan, on July 9, 2011. South Sudan celebrated its first day as an independent nation Saturday, raising its flag for the first time before tens of thousands of cheering citizens elated to reach the end of a 50-year struggle. (AP Photo/Andrew Burton)
A man with a South Sudan flag stuck in his hat waits for the independence ceremony of the Republic of South Sudan in Juba, South Sudan, on July 9, 2011. South Sudan officially became the 193rd country in the world on July 9, 2011, after voting to secede from Sudan in January, 2011. (AP Photo/Andrew Burton)
A woman waves the flag of South Sudan during independence celebrations in Juba, South Sudan, Saturday, July 9, 2011. South Sudan raised the flag of its new nation for the first time on Saturday, as thousands of South Sudanese citizens swarmed the capital of Juba to celebrate the country’s birth. (AP Photo/David Azia)
Members of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army, SPLA, march in a parade at the independence ceremony in Juba, South Sudan, on Saturday July 9, 2011. South Sudan celebrated its first day as an independent nation Saturday, raising its flag for the first time before tens of thousands of cheering citizens elated to reach the end of a 50-year struggle. (AP Photo/Andrew Burton)
People gather around a statue of former Southern Sudanese leader John Garang, draped in the national flag of South Sudan, during independence celebrations in Juba, South Sudan, Saturday, July 9, 2011. (AP Photo/David Azia)
A youth holds the flag of South Sudan as he waits for the start of independence celebrations in Juba, South Sudan, Saturday, July 9, 2011. South Sudan raised the flag of its new nation for the first time on Saturday, as thousands of South Sudanese citizens swarmed the capital of Juba to celebrate the country’s birth. (AP Photo/David Azia)
The southern Sudanese flag attached to an AK-47 rifle during the south’s formal declaration of independence from the north at a celebration in the southern capital city of Juba on Saturday, July 9, 2011. Thousands of Sudanese turned out to witness the declaration, which came after decades of civil war with the north. (AP Photo/Pete Muller)
One of many people who fainted due to heat exhaustion are carried away during southern Sudan’s declaration of independence in the capital city of Juba on Saturday, July 9, 2011.(AP Photo/Pete Muller)
Southern Sudanese celebrate their first independence day in the capital city of Juba on Saturday, July 9, 2011. The southern Sudanese opted for secession during a popular referendum in January 2011. Saturday’s declaration and recognition makes the Republic of South Sudan the world’s 193rd country. (AP Photo/Pete Muller)
A Southern Sudanese man kisses a national flag during an independence celebration at midnight in Juba, Saturday, July 9, 2011. South Sudan became the world’s newest nation early Saturday, officially breaking away from Sudan after two civil wars over five decades that cost the lives of millions. (AP Photo/Pete Muller)
A southern Sudanese man dons a shirt made of the new national flag during the Republic of South Sudan’s first national soccer match in the capital of Juba on Sunday, July 10, 2011. The game, played against Kenya, comes just one day after South Sudan declared its independence from the north following decades of costly civil war. (AP Photo/Pete Muller)
Southern Sudanese crowd tightly together to watch the Republic of South Sudan’s first national soccer match in the capital of Juba on Sunday, July 10, 2011. The game, played against Kenya, comes just one day after South Sudan declared its independence from the north following decades of costly civil war. (AP Photo/Pete Muller)
Southern Sudanese crowd tightly together to watch the Republic of South Sudan’s first national soccer match in the capital of Juba on Sunday, July 10, 2011. The game, played against Kenya, comes just one day after South Sudan declared its independence from the north following decades of costly civil war. (AP Photo/Pete Muller)
A crowd of men scream in celebration during the independence ceremony of the Republic of South Sudan in Juba, South Sudan, on Saturday July 9, 2011. South Sudan officially became the 193rd country in the world on Saturday, after voting to secede from Sudan in January, 2011. (AP Photo/Andrew Burton)
Southern Sudanese gather to celebrate their first independence day in the capital city of Juba on Saturday, July 9, 2011. (AP Photo/Pete Muller)
A woman holds a sparkler out of a car window in celebration of South Sudan’s impending independence in Juba, South Sudan, late Friday, July 8, 2011. (AP Photo/Andrew Burton)
Southern Sudanese flocked to the streets of Juba to celebrate their independence on July 9th, 2011. The world’s newest country officially split from Sudan this past Saturday after two civil wars that spanned five decades and cost millions of lives. Amidst tears and jubilation the flag of South Sudan was raised where the Sudanese flag had once flown in its place. Despite the victory of independence, the country will face many challenges in the near future, as they are one of the most underdeveloped in the world.
