South Sudan became independent on Friday midnight, six months after overwhelming vote in favour in 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.New Delhi has recently pledged $5-million development assistance to South Sudan for capacity building projects such as vocational training centres and rural technology parks. Talking to newspersons on board the special aircraft, the Vice- President said the African countries would gain from India's experience. 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 last 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.