The world's newest country has emerged onto the international landscape. South Sudan was born at midnight on July 9th 2011. South Sudan now becomes the 196th sovereign state in the world. The new country comprises approximately a third of what was the biggest country in Africa -Sudan. With a size of 619,745 sq Kilometres the new country is slightly larger than the US state of California and Washington state combined. Its also larger than France, Belgium and the Netherlands combined. After decades of war and population movements its demographics are unclear but the population is estimated between 7.5-9.5 million
The birth of this new nation will not be an easy one. There are still major issues which will tax the resolve of the new southern government and its president, Salva Kiir.

For decades Sudan had been at war with itself, with around two million people killed and the development of the nation - both north and south - held back. The latest bout of civil war, which began in 1983, came to an end with a Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed by both sides in 2005.

South Sudan became independent after a massive majority of 99% pledged support for cutting the ties with Khartoum. But the price of independence is still to be fully calculated.

There is as yet no official demarcation of the actual line between north and south and there has been fighting in the border area in recent weeks.

The United Nations has peacekeeping troops in the town of Abiyei after northern forces raided the area several weeks ago. The troops forced thousands of southerners out, including the governor, who is now living in exile in the South Sudan capital Juba.

The other nig factor for both north and south is oil. South Sudan has 80% of the reserves, but the majority of the refineries, and crucially the pipeline to the outside world, are in the north. Currently the revenues are split 50/50, but that agreement lapses with independence and there is no replacement yet.


Even closer to home for the administration in the capital Juba, is the presence of a number of armed factions within the south. The mood in Juba is expectant and excited. Dignitaries from across the world, including the British Foreign Secretary William Hague and former US Secretary of State Colin Powell, will take part in celebrations.

Behind the scenes, senior figures in the Sudan People's Liberation Army are preparing to take on their long-time enemies in the north. Both sides seem exhausted by the conflict but continual border skirmishes could deteriorate into a wider conflict. The real issue is whether economic pragmatism ill win out over ethnic, religious and historical rivalries.

There are ethnic and religious issues underlying the conflict. The North is mostly Muslim and Arabic in culture while the south is Christian and more like its Bantu speaking African neighbours.
The new national chart is very graphic with Uranus on the ASC, Pluto on the MC and Venus on the IC in a tight T-square. Pluto opposes (Venus) lord 7 no doubt reflecting problems ahead with South Sudan's neighbour to the north. Venus (Lord 2) is close to the IC the place of 'buried treasure' which here represents the massive oil wealth in the south. This could represent Venus as Lord 7 in co-operation with the north although that Pluto opposition gives real cause for concern. The potential wealth of the new nation is also reflected in the placement of Jupiter in Taurus in the 2nd house and the fact the Moon is in Libra on the benefic fixed star Spica. It is within the via combusta and applying across the sign boundary to trine to Venus and opposition to Jupiter afterwards. The IC is in mundo on the fixed star Menkalinan. which according to Ptolemy is of the nature of Mars and Mercury.

http://www.constellationsofwords.com/st ... linan.html

Mark

Nice introduction! Good work, Mark!

I think that the mutual reception between Venus in the 4th house, Lady of the 2nd and 7th, dispositor of both Jupiter and Saturn, with the Moon in Libra, Lady of the 4th, is a God Save. The Moon conjunct Spica is a blessing and maybe the Void of Course condition will create a protective and beneficial zest and exception to rules that will allow South Sudan establish and lift itself as a nation, and get things going, in a manner that will allow it to address problems of suppresion, politics and poverty. The fact that Venus has dignities in her own right in Cancer, by face, is also a defence and a safeguard that will help hold things in place for the right causes. Venus is also in reception with Jupiter!

The Moon Void of Course may be compared with a 'Duty Free zone' that is like a bubble that makes exceptions to normal rules and routines. It does sometimes offer benefits. Lilly says that the Moon may still perform, if VOC, from places where she is dignified or from the signs of the fortunes.

Uranus is slow, virtually stationary, and the chart does have its challanges - which is to be expected with the huge tasks that lie ahead. Congratulations and good luck to the people and leaders of this new born country!

Being a night-chart, Saturn is the malefic out of sect, so even when exaltted in Libra, his movements and activations might be important to track for problems.
Problems that are related to or connected with government and allies (Saturn ruling 10th and 11th), and "partners" or open enemies (exaltation ruler of the 7th).
Saturn on Vindemiatrix is quite descriptive (and maybe nothing more than that): the "widow-maker", just having separated from the north...
http://www.constellationsofwords.com/st ... atrix.html

Mark, did you have the Moon in your mind as indicator of oil, when you mentioned her as significant for the country's wealth (or as ruler of the 4th, buried treasure)? (in a former life as a modern astrologer, I 'd have linked oil with Pluto, which is in the power of the government, and yields big money, but at the same time brings destruction to the people's possessions and is linked with enemies/partners (Pluto opp. Venus)).

Mars, signifiying the people (lord 1) but also death or problems (ruler of 8th), is very weakly placed (dignity by face, cadent) and moving towards the south node. Even though Mars is in sect, I expect trouble for the citizens of this new country, related to neighbours, communication, traffic, and transport (pipelines?).

Profection-wise, let's see what happens in september, when Mars is activated by the monthly profection of the 3d...

Oh my I didn't even know this happened! How shameful of me! I need to keep my eye on the news more!

Mark,

A question, Why Midnight the 9th? why not the election day? and really why midnight?

thanks Granny

Granny wrote:

A question, Why Midnight the 9th? why not the election day? and really why midnight?

Simple really. Its the time selected for the transfer of authority to the new government of South Sudan. Its very common to have new governments start then. It marks the de facto transfer of power.

Probably the most famous example in history of the birth of a nation at this time was in India when it obtained independence from the British Empire in 1947. The first Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's speech is a timeless classic. Here is a part of it:

''Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance. It is fitting that at this solemn moment we take the pledge of dedication to the service of India and her people and to the still larger cause of humanity''.

Mark

A question, Why Midnight the 9th? why not the election day? and really why midnight?

Simple really. Its the time selected for the transfer of authority to the new government of South Sudan.

Civil midnight - this meaning that the Sun is not exactly North, but in the 4th house, leading to unique and individual angles in the chart. Interesting that it is still astrological Friday, though, and maybe the Sunrize chart on this day leads up to the event?

thanks for the clarification!

the sun being in the bottom of the chart is a bit odd to me, I think I'd rather (If I were allowed to pick the time kind of thing) I would have suggested sunrise or noon, so the Sun would be prominent in the chart, Also this midnight chart gives it an Aries horizon, with Mars in the lower part of the chart, Moon above the horizon in the 7th interesting enough, I really think I would have pushed for a sunrise change, but hey, that is the electional astrologer coming out!

Granny

Well, Granny, while thnking through the problem there does seem to be several options. I pondered a bit on whether a chart should be cast for Sunset rather than Sunrizein search for significance because it is Friday night with the Moon being the light of the time, rather than the Sun.

With the chart for Norway, the Declaration of Independence from Sweden on June 7. 1905, the act of independence is valid from the moment of the final hammer after the vote of the representatives at the national 'Storting', which was at 11.00 hrs local time, 10.00 GMT.

However, there are other laws of order where the decision is made that such order should be valid from midnight, civil midnight. I understand this to be the case with the national independence of South Sudan, as explained by Mark.

Personally, I thought your question was a good one. A train tricket may be valid from midnight on a certain date, but when was it issued and at what time was the train taken? It's something like that.

Exactly, I was thinking maybe a conception verses birth time, since they made a decision, I suppose one must need time to organize a governing body. Still Midnight, just seems like the natural time to change shifts at most Police stations is 6 am, midnight is actually a mid shift time, so from a security point of view it would feel very odd. or even as you say sunset, but I suppose it is all arbitrary.

Granny