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    July 07, 2011

South Sudan Has Big Oil Reserves, Big Problems

   VOA News
   Director of the Sudanese Survey Authority Prof. Ahmad Al-Sadiq displays
   a new map of the country of Sudan, announced by the Sudanese Ministry
   of Information in Khartoum, July 4, 2011
   Photo: AP
   Director of the Sudanese Survey Authority Prof. Ahmad Al-Sadiq displays
   a new map of the country of Sudan, announced by the Sudanese Ministry
   of Information in Khartoum, July 4, 2011

   The new Republic of South Sudan enters the world with great economic
   potential but faces huge challenges in its quest for peace and
   prosperity.
   The country possesses large oil reserves that made the former unified
   Sudan the third-largest producer in sub-Saharan Africa.
   Its population - estimated at between 8 and 13 million - is strongly
   united in favor of independence. In January, 98 percent of voters chose
   to split from the north, with whom the south fought a 21-year war.
   But the new nation has been wracked with violence in recent months. The
   United Nations estimated this week that more than 2,300 south Sudanese
   have died in tribal and rebel violence this year. At least seven rebel
   militias operate on southern territory.
   In addition, the country could plunge back into war with the north
   unless the sides can settle disputes over the Abyei region and how to
   share oil revenue.
   South Sudan is also one of the least developed countries on the planet.
   The capital, Juba, has only a few dozen kilometers of paved roads, and
   most of the country's people cannot read.
   Despite the obstacles, southern Sudanese are hopeful for their country,
   and tens if not hundreds of thousands are expected to take part in the
   independence celebrations.
   South Sudan becomes Africa's and world's newest nation on Saturday.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.

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