Sudan Becomes the 206th Member of the Olympic Family

Sudan has become the 206th member of the Olympic family after the approval of its inclusion by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), despite the ongoing conflicts in the African country, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011.

The unanimous recognition by the IOC brought a thunderous ovation from the members of the organization, with representatives from the African country visibly emotional. "Let me wish you a very bright future. We will stand by your side," said IOC President Thomas Bach.

"We hope to welcome you at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. This will put your nation on the world map," he added.

Thousands of people have been killed and more than 2.2 million people have been forced to flee since the war broke out in December 2013 between the government and rebels. Both sides have been accused of human rights abuses and indiscriminate killings, often carried out along ethnic lines, with Machar's Nuer facing off against Kiir's powerful Dinka.

South Sudanese marathon runner Guor Marial competed in the 2012 London Olympics, but he did so under the Olympic flag after refusing to compete for Sudan, as South Sudan was not yet a member of the IOC at that time. With the country now officially part of the IOC, South Sudan will be able to field a team for next year's Olympics, in which they can compete under their own flag.