After a 22-year civil war in which 2. 5 million southerners died, South Sudanese calls for independence from as early as 1954 were brought to a regional referendum. The referendum, constitutionally supported by the 2009 Southern Sudan Referendum Act, had a 60% turn out and was declared fair and free by international standards.
Eligibility was determined through three means – having parent’s native to the South Sudanese region on or before January 1, 1956, traceable ancestry in the South Sudanese indigenous population on or before January 1, 1956, and permanent residents in the area with no traceable ancestry after January 1, 1956.
In a six-day polling period, the Referendum required a 50+1 result to secede or remain part of Sudan and quorum of 50% of registered voters in the region. After three days, a 60% majority had already been reached in favour of secession and by the 15 January 2011 in a 98, 83% majority, the referendum was closed and tallied. On 9 July 2011, South Sudan became an independent state.