Independence Day in 2024

When is Independence Day?

Independence Day is a public holiday in South Sudan on July 9th each year.

This is the National Day of South Sudan and marks independence from the Republic of Sudan on this day in 2011.

History of Independence Day

Geographically the region now known as South Sudan is distinct from Sudan, though the history of both have been intertwined since antiquity when they were both a part of the ancient Egyptian Empire.

The region was settled by Muslim Arabs from the 14th century and then conquered by Muhammad Ali, viceroy of Egypt under the Ottoman Empire in 1820.

In 1899, Britain and Egypt reached an agreement under which Sudan was run by a governor-general appointed by Egypt with British consent. However, with Britain also controlling Egypt, this meant Sudan was effectively administered as a Crown colony. Sudan gained independence in January 1956, with the southern Sudan region demanding representation and more regional autonomy leading to the First Sudanese Civil War.

Following a stalemate in the civil war, the Southern Sudan Autonomous Region was formed in 1972 and lasted until 1983. A second Sudanese civil war soon developed and ended with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005. Later that year, southern autonomy was restored when an Autonomous Government of Southern Sudan was formed.

In January 2011, Southern Sudan citizens voted on whether they should break away from Sudan and declare independence, with 98.83% of the population voting for independence.

At midnight on July 9th 2011, South Sudan became an independent country under the name Republic of South Sudan. A few days later, South Sudan became the 193rd member state of the United Nations. It remains the most recently created sovereign state with widespread recognition.