Scotland's devolved government intends to ask voters in 2014 whether they want to break away from the rest of the UK. It's a referendum which raises many economic questions: who would control Britain's oil reserves in the North Sea, and what currency would an independent Scotland use? Those are some of the questions Markus Karlsson puts to Lena Wilson, Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise.
Half a century after the signing of the Evian Accords that led to Algerian independence from France, both countries are still sensitive about the war that came before the treaty. Next, the rise of political Islam in Tunisia sparks conflict at a renowned leftist university not far from the capital, Tunis. Finally, a new generation of artists has entered the spotlight as they share their vision of the Arab spring with the world.
Scotland’s campaign for independence from England began almost as soon as the unification happened, back in 1707. The campaign for Scottish independence has picked up speed with Scotland’s first minister, Alex Salmond, announcing plans to hold an independence referendum in 2014. The two countries separating is once again becoming quite a plausible scenario. But for some there's a lot at stake. Our correspondents Alix Bayle and Yong Chim report.
The president of the newly independent South Sudan promised Saturday to bring "a just peace for all," adding that he would work with north Sudan to achieve that. He also offered amnesty to rebels who fought against his government.
South Sudan proclaimed independence Saturday, making it the world’s youngest nation. Celebrations broke out across the capital as the national flag was raised, but the impoverished state still faces many challenges.
North Sudan’s Minister for Presidential Affairs Bakri Hassan Saleh announced Friday that Khartum will officially recognise South Sudan as an independent country from July 9th.
After a long fought struggle, South Sudan became the world’s youngest nation early Saturday. The capital of Juba erupted in celebration with people dancing on the streets. But there are many challenges ahead in the impoverished new nation.
From midnight on Friday night, the Republic of South Sudan will be born. What was previously Africa's largest nation will now be split in two. It comes after January's referendum in the south, in which 90% of voters chose to break away from the North, and Khartoum, after years of civil war. But is South Sudan, the world's 196th country, ready to draw a line under the past and stand on its own two feet?
Southern Sudanese will celebrate the birth of their new country on July 9 after voting for secession from the north in a January referendum. But the joy of independence is being threatened by a new wave of violence and ethnic strife.
Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir says he has accepted the likelihood of the south's secession from the north following the referendum. Official results are due later Monday, but early indications show an overwhelming vote for independence.
