Dignitaries at South Sudan Independence Day Celebration [PHOTOS]

Tens of thousands of South Sudanese danced and cheered in the capital Juba on Saturday, July 9, 2011 as their new country formally declared its independence, a hard-won separation from the north that also plunged the fractured region into a new period of uncertainty.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon  and dignitaries from many countries attended the Independence celebrations in Juba.

A man waves South Sudan's national flag as he attends the Independence Day celebrations in the capital Juba, July 9, 2011. Tens of thousands of South Sudanese danced and cheered as their new country formally declared its independence on Saturday, a hard-won separation from the north that also plunged the fractured region into a new period of uncertainty.

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir unveils the statue of the late Dr. John Garang before the Independence Day celebrations in the capital Juba, July 9, 2011. Tens of thousands of South Sudanese danced and cheered as their new country formally declared its independence on Saturday, a hard-won separation from the north that also plunged the fractured region into a new period of uncertainty.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon is greeted at Juba airport July 8, 2011, as he arrives to attend Southern Sudan's independence ceremonies.

Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi (C) arrives at Juba airport for Independence Day celebrations July 9, 2011. Tens of thousands of South Sudanese danced and cheered as their new country formally declared its independence on Saturday, a hard-won separation from the north that also plunged the fractured region into a new period of uncertainty.

Colin Powell arrives at Juba airport for the Independence Day celebrations in South Sudan's capital Juba, July 9, 2011. Tens of thousands of South Sudanese danced and cheered as their new country formally declared its independence on Saturday, a hard-won separation from the north that also plunged the fractured region into a new period of uncertainty.

Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir (L) welcomes South Africa's President Jacob Zuma in Khartoum July 8, 2011. Zuma will be attending South Sudan's independence day celebrations on Saturday.

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan (L) arrives at Juba airport July 9, 2011. Tens of thousands of South Sudanese danced and cheered as their new country formally declared its independence on Saturday, a hard-won separation from the north that also plunged the fractured region into a new period of uncertainty.

South Sudanese celebrate South Sudan's independence day in Juba July 9, 2011.

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir (L) and Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir attend the Independence Day ceremony in South Sudan's capital Juba July 9, 2011. Tens of thousands of South Sudanese danced and cheered as their new country formally declared its independence on Saturday, a hard-won separation from the north that also plunged the fractured region into a new period of uncertainty.

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir (L) and Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir wave to the crowd during the Independence Day ceremony in Juba July 9, 2011. Tens of thousands of South Sudanese danced and cheered as their new country formally declared its independence on Saturday, a hard-won separation from the north that also plunged the fractured region into a new period of uncertainty. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addresses the Independence Day celebrations in South Sudan's capital Juba, July 9, 2011. Tens of thousands of South Sudanese danced and cheered as their new country formally declared its independence on Saturday, a hard-won separation from the north that also plunged the fractured region into a new period of uncertainty.

Salva Kiir takes his oath of office as South Sudan's President during the Independence Day celebrations in the capital Juba July 9, 2011. Kiir promised to bring peace to troubled border areas and offered an amnesty to armed groups fighting his government, hours after his state declared independence from the north on Saturday. South Sudan seceded on Saturday -- a separation won in a January referendum that was the climax of a 2005 peace deal which ended decades of civil war with the north.

Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir addresses the Independence Day celebrations in South Sudan's capital Juba, July 9, 2011. Tens of thousands of South Sudanese danced and cheered as their new country formally declared its independence on Saturday, a hard-won separation from the north that also plunged the fractured region into a new period of uncertainty.

African Union Chairperson and Equatorial Guinea's President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo addresses the Independence Day celebrations in South Sudan's capital Juba, July 9, 2011. Tens of thousands of South Sudanese danced and cheered as their new country formally declared its independence on Saturday, a hard-won separation from the north that also plunged the fractured region into a new period of uncertainty.

Speaker of the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly James Wani Igga performs the proclamation of the Independence of South Sudan during the Independence Day celebrations in South Sudan's capital Juba, July 9, 2011. Tens of thousands of South Sudanese danced and cheered as their new country formally declared its independence on Saturday, a hard-won separation from the north that also plunged the fractured region into a new period of uncertainty.

A tribeswoman dances during the Independence Day celebrations in Juba July 9, 2011. Tens of thousands of South Sudanese danced and cheered as their new country formally declared its independence on Saturday, a hard-won separation from the north that also plunged the fractured region into a new period of uncertainty.

South Sudanese dance during the Independence Day celebrations in Juba July 9, 2011. Tens of thousands of South Sudanese danced and cheered as their new country formally declared its independence on Saturday, a hard-won separation from the north that also plunged the fractured region into a new period of uncertainty.