Obama: U.S. Will Recognize S. Sudan

There’s a new country in town: The U.S. will welcome Southern Sudan to the international community in July, President Obama announced today. Official results from a referendum were released today, and residents of Southern Sudan voted overwhelmingly for independence, with 99 percent of the vote in favor of secession. The U.S. will also begin the process of removing Sudan from its list of states that sponsor terrorism in return for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir’s pledge to accept the outcome of the vote. Still, there has been some tension in the oil-rich border areas between the two states, with 50 people killed over the weekend. Southern Sudan will officially separate in July.