South Sudan became independent at Friday midnight, six months after an overwhelming vote in favour of a referendum. The formal proclamation of independence will be made today by Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon who are among the dignitaries attending the celebrations in the capital, Juba. Vice-President Mohd. Hamid Ansari will represent India at the celebrations.People are thronging the streets of South Sudan to celebrate its independence from the North after decades of conflict in which nearly 1.5 million people died.South Sudan has become the 193rd country recognised by the United Nations and the 54th UN member state in Africa.The Vice-President, who arrived in Uganda's capital Kampala on Friday evening, held talks with Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. During the meeting both the leaders discussed ways to strengthen the India-Uganda bilateral relationship with focus on regional and international issues.The Vice President is in Kampala on his way to resource-rich South Sudan.