South Sudan's President Salva Kiir has called for economic independence and government accountability during a speech marking the nation's one-year anniversary of independence.

In his comments, Mr. Kiir said he wanted to assure the citizens of South Sudan, as well as international investors, that his country would not tolerate corruption.

He urged the international community to continue helping South Sudan, as it struggles with poverty and the effects of its struggles with neighboring Sudan.

“In all of this, I ask the international community stays with us. We are a new country and they should not just abandon us because we are independent. The commitment we showed in creating our nation is the same commitment we will show in developing it. We are under no illusions as to the scale of what we must achieve and so the international community should not doubt our determination to achieve it.”

South Sudan broke away from Sudan following a referendum that was part of a 2005 peace deal. The agreement ended a 21-year north-south civil war.

The countries still have disputes over borders and oil revenue that flared into fighting earlier this year.