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South Sudan Independence Vote: A Look At New Countries Formed Since 1990 (PHOTOS)

The Youngest Nations In The World: South Sudan Could Join Today
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By 

Senior Culture Reporter, HuffPost

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With a vote for secession all but certain in the upcoming referendum, South Sudan finds itself the subject of international interest and speculation as it anticipates independence. While the majority of residents are convinced that life in that potential new state will be a vast improvement over that in a united Sudan, just how the two nations will untangle their economies and political allegiances remains to be seen.

Perhaps Sudan officials might be best served by studying some of these predecessors -- new nations which have been formed since 1990. The dissolution of the USSR and Yugoslavia in the early 1990s sparked the formation of many newly independent states.

And while you might be aware of some of these changes, we've chosen to focus the secession of some which are lesser known.

Take a look at some of the world's countries which have formed since 1990 here:

New Countries Since 1990
Namibia(01 of13)
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Namibia became independent of South Africa by March 21, 1990. (credit:AP )
Yemen (02 of13)
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North and South Yemen merged to form a unified Yemen on May 22, 1990. (credit:AP )
Germany (unified) (03 of13)
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East Germany and West Germany merged to form a unified Germany on Oct. 3, 1990, shortly after the fall of the Iron Curtain. (credit:AP )
Marshall Islands (04 of13)
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The Marshall Islands were a part of the Trust Territory of Pacific Islands (administered by the United States) until Sept. 17, 1991, when they gained independence as a former colony. (credit:AP )
Micronesia (05 of13)
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Previously previously known as the Caroline Islands, Micronesia became independent from the United States on Sept. 17, 1991. (credit:Getty )
Czech Republic (06 of13)
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The Czech Republic became an independent nation on Jan. 1, 1993 after Czechoslovakia dissolved. (credit:Getty )
Slovakia (07 of13)
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Also on Jan. 1, 1993, Slovakia became independent after Czechoslovakia dissolved. (credit:Getty )
Eritrea (08 of13)
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Formerly part of Ethiopia, Eritrea seceded on May 25, 1993. (credit:AP )
Palau (09 of13)
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Palau was part of the Trust Territory of Pacific Islands (administered by the United States) but finally gained independence as a former colony on Oct. 1, 1994. (credit:AP )
East Timor (10 of13)
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Though East Timor (Timor-Leste) declared independence from Portugal in 1975, the nation did not became independent from Indonesia until May 20, 2002. (credit:AP )
Montenegro (11 of13)
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Though it dissolved from Yugoslavia in 1992, Montenegro split from Serbia on June 3, 2006. (credit:Getty )
Serbia (12 of13)
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Serbia established itself as its own entity on June 5, 2006 - two days after Montenegro split. (credit:Getty )
Kosovo (13 of13)
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Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia Feb. 17, 2008. On July 22, 2010, the International Court of Justice finally ruled that Kosovo's declaration of independence did not violate international law. (credit:Getty )

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