Today, the 21-year liberation war comes to an official end as people celebrate South Sudan’s independence day in Juba. AFP PHOTO/PETER MARTELL. 
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir (R) meets with his South African counterpart Jacob Zuma upon the latter's arrival at Khartoum on July 8, 2011 on the eve before South Sudan secedes from the north and becomes the world's newest nation. AFP PHOTO/ASHRAF SHAZLY