South Sudan: first things first – in pictures

Africa’s largest country has split in two. The Republic of South Sudan is the world’s newest nation, achieving independence on 9 July ­following Africa’s longest-running civil war. ­Optimism is high – 98% of voters chose secession – but the new government has almost no capacity to run a village, let alone a country. The new state faces immense challenges.
Pictured above: man milling flour
Photograph: Zed Nelson/Institute

Rachel Angeth Madit, 21, Miss South Sudan/Miss New Sudan ­African Queen
'My four brothers died during the war. I went to secondary school in Uganda. I came back to Juba last year with my mum. I haven’t seen my father since I was 15. He is a Dinka, has 20 wives and many children – he’s a chief. I saw the modelling ­competition on the internet. I won a small car, a laptop and a crown. I haven’t done any modelling yet – there is no industry here – but I’ve registered my agency, South Sudan Next Top Model. I just need ­investors. And I’m involved with an orphans project in Juba.'
Photograph: Zed Nelson/Institute

Mabior Garang, son of Dr John Garang, a former SPLA rebel leader and Sudanese politician
'The people are edgy right now. They fought the war, contributed their children, their crops, their livestock. The moment they should be paid back, the ­movement is hijacked by the ­"cut-and-paste ­middle class" – the foreign diaspora returning. They can’t institute ­policies that speak to the people. And when ­people are hungry and perceive those in power are denying them food, they will rise up.'
Photograph: Zed Nelson/Institute

Sabina Dario Lokolong, deputy minister for humanitarian affairs and disaster management
'From 1998, I lived in Leeds and worked in odd jobs – catering, a warehouse, Eastgate ­Jobcentre. I returned to Sudan in 2005. After the ­comprehensive peace agreement, I became a member of ­parliament, and then, after ­independence, deputy minister.'
Photograph: Zed Nelson/Institute

Suzanne Oliver (left), a middle-class returnee, coming back from North Sudan
'The journey from Kosti was 18 days. I brought all my furniture. I’ve been waiting here at Juba port for 21 days for my belongings.'
Photograph: Zed Nelson/Institute

General Mamur Obuto Mete, ­deputy chief of staff for moral ­orientation responsible for the demobilisation of militias and ­renegade groups, pictured with his bodyguards.
Photograph: Zed Nelson/Institute

Atem Yaak Atem, deputy ­minister, ministry of information and broadcasting
'I was the owner and editor of the Pioneer newspaper in Juba. I was in the SPLA. As a propagandist I have been compared to Goebbels. I was appointed in August. I’m like a fish out of water, wearing a suit.'
Photograph: Zed Nelson/Institute

Benjamin Bol, a former SPLA rebel soldier who now runs a multimillion dollar road-building business
'When I was at university in Nairobi, I saved all my money, bought two trucks and rented them to the UN and the SPLA for $500 a day. Then there was a shortage of food, so I bought imported food and sold it to the army. The turning point was starting a business in Juba.'
Photograph: Zed Nelson/Institute

Dirk Jan Omtzigt, economic adviser to the government Task Force
'I’m from Holland – I arrived in 2008. There is a huge list of things to solve when you start a new country. After independence, we needed symbols of nationhood – a flag, a national anthem, a legal framework, a ­constitution.'
Photograph: Zed Nelson/Institute

Hui Yao, general manager, Chinese-owned Golden Nest Sudan Limited
'My company, which specialises in construction, sent me here in 2007. There were no scheduled flights to Juba then, so we chartered one from ­Nairobi. There were no hotels either, only tents – three beds in each tent for $100 per person per night. There’s so much to be done. There’s no clean water, not enough medical help, poor housing. It is difficult financially. There isn’t enough money. We have 15 Chinese people working for us here, but most are local people. I don’t know how long I will stay.'
Photograph: Zed Nelson/Institute

Silver X, 24, rap artist and singer
'My album is a great hit. Small kids sing it, old mamas and papas. I don’t go into politics in my singing – it’s a bit risky. I sang a song about how hard it is when you go for a job and they want to know what tribe you’re from, who your father is. It brought me into conflict with the government. My father died in the war. He was shot by his wife’s brother – they were soldiers. My mother took us to Uganda and I was educated in Kampala. When we achieved independence, I was shocked. There was a four-day concert and I performed at the cultural centre. When they raised the flag, I was ­shedding tears – for what had ­happened in the past, but also for joy.'
Photograph: Zed Nelson/Institute

Rock City Hotel Pool, Jebel Hill, Juba
On Sunday afternoon, the pool fills up with well-off South Sudanese.
Photograph: Zed Nelson/Institute

Dr Pauline Riak, chair, ­Southern Sudan Anti-Corruption commission
'I studied in California with my ­husband. We were on our way home when the war broke out, so we stayed in Kenya. Thousands of South ­Sudanese sheltered there. When ­independence came, it was not really expected. Five people were named as commissioners; I was one of them. I got a phone call saying,"Wrap up what you’re doing and come home. This is an order." When I came in 2006, nobody talked about corruption because the word did not exist in any of our 14 ­linguistic groupings. We did not have banks. Money came in suitcases. We paid for everything in cash. This is an environ­ment conducive to misappropriation. But things are changing.'
Photograph: Zed Nelson/Institute