While revolution rages on the streets of Cairo, south of Egypt another massive revolution is developing.

The world’s newest country may soon be born… here’s the story:

Sudan has long been a victim of famine and violence. A deadly civil war in that country has claimed about 2 MILLION lives since 1983.

In 2005 a peace agreement ended the war. As part of that agreement, South Sudan was granted an option to break away and form its own country. However, they must wait six years and hold a referendum for secession.

The week of January 9, 2011 voting for secession took place. Hundreds of thousands of excited voters lined up at the crack of dawn on the first day to cast their ballot.

Now, the results are in: with an overwhelming 98% voter turnout (if only we got that kind of voter turnout in the USA!), over 99% of South Sudan voted for secession!

However, South Sudan cannot secede immediately- they must wait for the final result to be confirmed next month and get through legal difficulties. If all goes well, they will be free to officially declare Independence on the 9th of July.

The President of south Sudan, Salva Kiir, calls for patience and respect, saying, ”The project has not finished … We cannot declare independence today. Let us respect the agreement. We must go slowly so we can reach safely to where we are going.”

So what now?

There are still problems to be sorted out- including Northern Sudan’s loss of the south’s oil resources.

They will have to resolve tense border disputes and the new country will need a new name.

Two contenders for south Sudan’s new name include Nile Republic and Cush, or will it simply be known as “South Sudan”?

The President of north Sudan, Omar al-Bashir, has said that he wants to have “brotherly” relations with the south after it secedes, and Kiir claims that the impending secession only changes “…the constitutional form of relationship between north and south. North and south are drawn together in indissoluble geographic and historic bonds.”

Is a peaceful secession possible, and can the two Sudans manage cordial relations?  Only time will tell.