Sens. Lankford and Mullin, Gov. Stitt return from visiting OK Nat'l Guard unit in Africa

Lankford Leads Congressional Delegation to Visit Oklahoma National Guard Members Deployed to Africa

WASHINGTON, DC (Nov. 14th) – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) returned today from a congressional delegation trip he led to the Horn of Africa to connect with members of the Oklahoma Army National Guard in the USAFRICOM area of responsibility (AOR) as part of Task Force Tomahawk.

Also traveling with Lankford were Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), who serves on the Armed Services Committee, Oklahoma Governor J. Kevin Stitt, and Major General Thomas Mancino, Adjutant General of Oklahoma. Representatives Jim Banks (R-IN) and Larry Bucshon (R-IN) also participated in the CODEL as Indiana National Guard members are also part of Task Force Tomahawk.

Birth of a nation: South Sudan gains independence

After over two decades of bloody civil war, southern Sudan has finally achieved its independence. At 12:01am (local), July 9th, 2011, the Republic of South Sudan officially separated from the Republic of Sudan, and was recognized by that country.

Here is a map of the new nation and its surrounding neighbors (for the geographically challenged, Sudan and South Sudan are located in the continent of Africa):

Over 98% of South Sudanese voted for independence in a referendum that was held this past January - part of a peace agreement from 2005.