In January 2005, a peace agreement putting an end to the longest civil war in Africa was signed between northern and southern Sudan. Under the terms of the agreement, a referendum was to be held for the people of southern Sudan; so in January this year, history was made when 98% of Southern Sudanese voted for independence from the north.

However, challenges remain: malnutrition is chronic, 75% of the population has no access to primary health care, and internal conflict still continues with power struggles over oil resources and the border demarcation between North and South Sudan.