Southern Sudan is a landlocked autonomous region in the southern part of the Sudan. Juba is its capital city. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the east; Kenya, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the south; and the Central African Republic to the west. To the north lies the predominantly Arab and Muslim region directly under the control of the central government, with its capital at Khartoum. Southern Sudan includes the vast swamp region of the Sudd formed by the White Nile, locally called the Bahr al Jebel.
A referendum on independence for Southern Sudan was held in January 2011, with 98.83% of the electorate opting for secession. Southern Sudan is expected to become an independent country on 9 July 2011.