African Union admits South Sudan as 54th member

The African Union (AU) has admitted South Sudan as its 54th member after the new African country proclaimed independence from Sudan on July 9.

The Addis Ababa-based AU said on Wednesday it had received more than the required majority votes to admit South Sudan as a member following a referendum held under the terms of a 2005 peace deal.

The AU said it will hold a flag-raising ceremony to mark the membership of its newest constituent.

The bloc's last entrant was Eritrea in 1993 after it split from Ethiopia following a 30-year dispute for independence.

South Sudan voted in a January referendum to break away from Sudan.

The new country had also introduced a new currency which is now in circulation

Representatives of the two countries are expected to resume AU-mediated talks next week on solving outstanding issues such as citizenship and oil revenue-sharing.

The United Nations’ General Assembly admitted South Sudan on July 14 as the 193rd member of the world’s body.

REUTERS/Williams