South Sudan

The struggle

The south was administered separately under British rule and then marginalised after Sudanese independence in 1956, producing two civil wars lasting nearly four decades in total. The SPLM/A under John Garang fought the second from 1983 until the 2005 peace agreement, which promised a referendum. In January 2011 almost 99 per cent voted to separate, and South Sudan became Africa's newest state on 9 July.

Key people

• John Garang

  1945–2005

  Led the SPLM/A and negotiated the peace agreement

• Salva Kiir Mayardit

  born 1951

  Led the SPLM to the referendum; first president

• Joseph Lagu

  born 1931

  Led the first war's Anyanya movement and the 1972 accord