Featured photojournalist: David Azia

A youth sits in a bus following rehearsals for independence celebrations in Juba, the capital of the Republic of South Sudan Photograph: David Azia/AP Youths gather following rehearsals for independence celebrations Photograph: David Azia/AP Men and women from Jonglei state gather ahead of a rehearsal for independence celebrations in Juba Photograph: David Azia/AP Women from the Bari community laugh after performing a traditional dance during celebrations on the eve of South Sudan's declaration of independence in Juba Photograph: David Azia/AP People walk along a main road to join celebrations in the centre of Juba Photograph: David Azia/AP Southern Sudanese police officers and members of a band are seen on-board a truck ahead of a rehearsal for independence celebrations in Juba Photograph: David Azia/AP Choir members gather ahead of independence celebrations in Juba Photograph: David Azia/AP People attend independence celebrations in Juba Photograph: David Azia/AP Members of the Sudan People's Liberation Army band arrive for the start of independence celebrations in Juba Photograph: David Azia/AP People gather around a statue of former Sudanese leader John Garang , draped in the national flag of South Sudan, during independence celebrations in Juba Photograph: David Azia/AP Sudan People's Liberation Army soldiers stand guard during independence celebrations in Juba Photograph: David Azia/AP People attend independence celebrations in Juba Photograph: David Azia/AP Sudan People's Liberation Army generals wait for the start of independence celebrations in Juba Photograph: David Azia/AP