The world’s newest nation, South Sudan, became an independent state just a few days ago — on July 9, 2011, at midnight.
A baby boy born close to midnight in South Sudan’s new capital, Juba, was named Independent in honor of the occasion. His mother, Josephine Alphanes, had this to say:
People suffered for so many years — so today God didn’t forget us for our suffering. That’s why I called him Independent.
News reports are calling him the first South Sudanese baby, but…I’m not sure how that’s possible, if he was born before midnight. Hm.
Source: First South Sudanese baby named Independent (h/t @voornamelijk)