A New Nation: South Sudan Readies for Independence
July 08, 2011 at 06:57 AM EDT
On Saturday, South Sudan becomes the world's newest country and Africa's 54th state, a process that follows 50 years of bloodshed. Renewed violence on its borders has shaken hopes of a peaceful transition to nationhood, but the fledgling country is not a failed state in waiting, analysts and senior figures in the reconstruction effort told CNBC.com.