A referendum on independence for Southern Sudan was held in January 2011, with 98.83% of the electorate opting for secession. The President of Sudan , Omar al-Bashir , accepted the results and issued a Republican Decree confirming the outcome of the referendum. [ 6 ] Southern Sudan will formally declare its independence from the north on Saturday 9 July 2011, creating Africa’s newest nation .
In April 2011, President Omar Al-Bashir stated that he would not recognise the independence of South Sudan if its government claims the Abyei region, which is part of South Kordofan state in northern Sudan. The two sides clashed over the region in May, which resulted in its seizure by the north.