I traveled to Juba, South Sudan, earlier this month at the invitation of the South Sudan Referendum Bureau. IFES worked closely with this body over the past several months on the successful January referendum in which residents of southern Sudan chose, almost unanimously, to separate from Sudan.

A few days before Independence Day ceremonies, the modest Juba airport was filled with returnees and international aid workers eager to usher in Africa's 54th country. Hotels and guest houses were reportedly filled to capacity and traffic moved at a brisk pace, ferrying visitors and returnees across the city's dusty roads.

Over the course of the next few days, I met many South Sudanese returnees who had fled the strife and chaos of the past decade. The new capital exuded a sense of relief as independence drew near. New street lights were installed, freshly painted buildings and various construction projects were completed in preparation for the unprecedented attention from international press and foreign delegations arriving to witness the birth of a nation.

This was far different from what I experienced during a visit to Juba last year when there was tension surrounding the future of southern Sudan and the resolution of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). Many questioned whether the referendum could be passed and feared the worst of Khartoum’s response.

Now, banners lined the streets of Juba: “Congratulations, South Sudan,” and, "Thank you for our Freedom!” Evoking the struggle and loss of the civil war, one banner depicted how both the armed forces and the country’s president, Salva Kiir Mayardit, gained independence: “It took a combination of bullets and ballots to attain our hard won freedom.”

South Sudan’s Independence Day on 9 July marked the culmination of the peace agreement and a road map for peaceful termination of hostilities between the north and south. It was a moving display of national pride and a testament to the determination of a people long regarded as second-class citizens, dominated by Khartoum and the north.

High-level delegations from across the continent came to witness the ceremonies. Under a bright, cloudless sky, South Sudanese raised the new flag of an independent South Sudan and sang a new anthem, recalling their past struggles and committing themselves to a fresh start.

But the challenges that South Sudan faces are astounding. The country begins independence as one of the poorest countries in the world. The CPA brought to an end three decades of armed struggle and the loss of some 2 million lives. Infrastructure is non-existent. Illiteracy is estimated to be more than 80 percent. Continued conflict with the north remains a possibility, as does the threat of internal conflict among South Sudan's major ethnic groups. A provisional constitution is in place, but much work lies ahead.

The continued support of the international community will be necessary to help South Sudan establish institutions of democratic governance and a functioning economy so it is able to deliver a better way of life for its citizens.

IFES is proud of the assistance that we have provided in support of the implementation of the CPA. As our focus shifts to establishing a democracy in South Sudan that responds to the needs of this young nation, we will work in partnership with individuals and organizations. It is essential to establish a transparent and responsive democratic system that instills a sense of ownership among all South Sudanese and requires elected leaders to be accountable to the public and answerable to the rule of law.