South Sudan Faces Major Issues As New Nation

The world's newest country will emerge onto the international landscape in a matter of hours.

Nation number 196 is not a newly created land mass, but approximately a third of what was the biggest country in Africa - Sudan.

From midnight, South Sudan becomes independent and frees itself from northern control in Khartoum.

But the birth of this new nation will not be an easy one.

There are still major issues which will tax the resolve of the new southern government and its president, Salva Kiir.

For decades Sudan had been at war with itself, with around two million people killed and the development of the nation - both north and south - held back.

The latest bout of civil war, which began in 1983, came to an end with a Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed by both sides in 2005.

South Sudan became independent after a massive majority of 99% pledged support for cutting the ties with Khartoum.

But the price of independence is still to be fully calculated.

There is as yet no official demarcation of the actual line between north and south and there has been fighting in the border area in recent weeks.

The United Nations has peacekeeping troops in the town of Abiyei after northern forces raided the area several weeks ago.

The troops forced thousands of southerners out, including the governor, who is now living in exile in the South Sudan capital Juba.

The other big deal for both north and south is oil.

South Sudan has 80% of the reserves, but the majority of the refineries, and crucially the pipeline to the outside world, are in the north.

Currently the revenues are split 50/50, but that agreement lapses with independence and there is no replacement yet.

Even closer to home for the administration in the capital Juba, is the presence of a number of armed factions within the south.

For a variety of reasons they feel they are being short changed by the realisation of independence and may seek to press their claims by force if they cannot be placated.

The mood in Juba is expectant and excited. There are signs everywhere reminding citizens of the momentous day ahead on July 9.

Dignitaries from across the world, including the British Foreign Secretary William Hague and former US Secretary of State Colin Powell, will take part in celebrations.

Behind the scenes, senior figures in the Sudan People's Liberation Army are preparing to take on their long-time enemies in the north.

London-educated Lt Gen Majak D'Agoot, who heads the south's intelligence service, says all the people, both north and south, are "tired of war".

But he added that if the south is pressed "the two states may spiral into a perpetual state of warfare" - a challenging backdrop to the first steps into nationhood.