Who says "It's only a game"?

Inspired by the late Manute Bol, a southern Sudanese who found fame and fortune as an NBA player in the US, basketball is growing as a sport in the soon-to-be independent South Sudan. As this NY Times story relates, a game played in US neighborhoods, schools and by professionals provides a source of hope and a possible path to a larger world for some talented, ambitious southern Sudanese youth. 

New country emerging but challenges remain

Southern Sudanese voted overwhelmingly for secession from the north. That result means a six-month transition to full independence, a period that will prove to be contentious and challenging. Read more in this IRIN Global News article.

Southern Sudan Votes 99 to 1 to Secede

Southern Sudan is expected to become a new, independent nation on July 9.

This is the story of how the US, the United Nations, and many international partners enabled the referendum to take place peacefully and credibly.

"Today it was announced that in a landslide vote nearly 99% of Southern Sudanese voters opted to secede from Sudan. The Government of Sudan has formally accepted the outcome, an important step in preserving peace in a region that has suffered through decades of war."

Angela Stephens, USAID Africa Bureau Read the complete article.

It's Official! South Sudan to Become World's Newest Nation

Sudan’s Vice President Ali Osman Taha (Reuters)The final count is not in, but the Sudanese government has announced that it accepts the preliminary results of the referendum in South Sudan which indicate overwhelming support of independence.

Read the complete article in The Sudan Tribune.

On the Ground Update on Referendum and Drilling from Salva

Hello All,
 
The voting for the referendum was finished yesterday and it went very well here in Wau town where we are. We were watching everything carefully thinking that we may move back to the border of Uganda and Sudan, but nothing happened so far and we are going to resume our drilling here around Wau while we are still watching for any outcome violence.  We drilled 6 wells before and we will start drilling again on Tuesday.
 
We are very happy here because the  referendum is going well so far and hopefully things will remain like that to the end of it.  The renegade surrendered yesterday to Southern Sudan government in Jonguli state. The other renegade that was been supported by the northern government in Unity State went to North and we are very happy here in Southern Sudan. We are wishing for the birth of the New Country soon.
 
We have a lot of returnees here in Wau town and we are going to drill for some of them. Minister of SSRRC asked us to help them out, they are so many and we can't drill for all of them. I told him that we can do what we can where we are, but not going behind our capacity and he agreed with that.
 
We will start drilling on Tuesday for 250 street kids that are been put in the new training camp.
 
Blessings, and keep praying,
Salva Dut