South Sudan

On July 9th, 2011, South Sudan became the planet's newest nation. After 23 years of war with the north and the death of two million of their family members, the citizens of southern Sudan voted themselves independent in January of that year and began preparing for their own country. Though a constitution had been written, factions struggled to balance the power between tribes. While they planned for independence, those in power faced infant mortality levels among the highest on the planet and literacy rates among the lowest. These images were made in May of 2011 during that period of transition.