The number of countries recognized by the United Nations rose to 193 on Saturday as the Republic of South Sudan declared its independence, announcing its existence from its newly-minted capital, Juba. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, no stranger to divided nations, wished the new country success and prosperity, all the while quite aware of the possibility that North-South Sudan relations will be similar to those of his home country, Korea. The Sudanese civil war dragged on for decades, reaching its peak of rage between 1983 and 2005, during which 2 million people were killed. A peace treaty between the factions was signed in 2005 despite the best efforts of Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir to foil it. Al-Bashir, a radical Islamist, did not look kindly upon the agreement, which allocated a third of the nation's land to its black, non-Muslim population and in doing so relinquished Sudan's title as the largest nation in Africa. Despite the fact that Khartoum itself recognized Juba's independence prior to the formal declaration and al-Bashir attended Saturday's celebrations, war clearly looms on the horizon. After South Sudan's national referendum, in which 99 percent voted for independence, the northern army took action on multiple fronts, all with an eye toward Juba. They first gathered in Darfur, then in South Kordofan, where the ground is rich in oil fields and rebels fought alongside Juba during the civil war. Until recently the northern army was fighting in [the central province of] Abyei, which has been granted special, excluded status as neither side could reach an agreement on who it belonged to. The disputes between the North, which is mostly Arab/Muslim, and the South, comprised of Christians or adherents to local religions, continue. And then there's the oil. More than 80 percent of Sudan's oil fields are now in South Sudan, but its infrastructure - refineries and pipelines - remains in the North. What to do? How can the revenues be split? We'll hold off on this decision until the next war. Sudan, a member of the Arab League, has never had diplomatic relations with Israel. The infant Republic of South Sudan, however, has been quick to thank Israel for its support during its civil war. By to striving to build ties and promote cooperation, this new nation may be our gain.
