Independence Day celebrates South Sudan's birth as a sovereign nation after decades of war, a hard-won referendum, and global recognition as the world's newest country.

When is Independence Day?

Independence Day in South Sudan is celebrated every year on July 9.

The following is the list of Independence Day from 2020 to 2049.

The History of Independence Day?

South Sudan's independence was the result of decades of conflict between the north and the south of Sudan. The First Sudanese Civil War (1955–1972) erupted even before Sudan gained full independence from Britain and Egypt, as southern Sudanese groups resisted domination by Khartoum. The Addis Ababa Agreement of 1972 granted the South a measure of autonomy, but this peace collapsed in 1983 when the government revoked autonomy and tried to impose Islamic law nationwide.

This sparked the Second Sudanese Civil War (1983–2005), led by the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) under John Garang. The war was one of the longest and deadliest in Africa, costing more than 2 million lives and displacing millions.

In 2005, the SPLM/A and the Sudanese government signed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). This treaty ended active conflict, granted southern Sudan six years of autonomy, and promised a referendum on independence in 2011. Though John Garang died in a helicopter crash shortly after the Agreement, his successor Salva Kiir Mayardit carried forward the vision for independence.

From January 9 to 15, 2011, the referendum was held under international monitoring. The results were overwhelming: 98.83% of voters chose independence. The outcome reflected decades of struggle and the aspirations of the southern people for self-rule.

On July 9, 2011, South Sudan was officially declared the world's newest nation. Salva Kiir Mayardit was sworn in as the first President, and the new flag of South Sudan was raised in Juba. Just days later, on July 14, 2011, South Sudan joined the United Nations as its 193rd member.