Despite the human misery and the hardships the South Sudanese people have to face as fighting continues in the world's newest nation, South Sudanese and friends of South Sudan have taken to Twitter to share their love of the country with the hashtag #ThingILoveaboutSouthSudan.

South Sudan has been at war since December 16, 2013 after an attempted coup by soldiers loyal to former vice-president Riek Machar.

A South Sudanese girl at independence festivities
Public domain image – original by Jonathan Morgenstein/USAID on flickr

Here is what people love about South Sudan:

when my "all-season" airstrip (one of the better ones in the region) became a lake. #thingsiloveaboutSouthSudan pic.twitter.com/x51DeBicf7

— viadya (@viadya) January 16, 2014

The horns on their cows #ThingsILoveAboutSouthSudan (unoriginal I know, but seriously, they're amazing) pic.twitter.com/iYCcok7aOo

— John Fenning (@berniefenning) January 15, 2014

This girl who greets me with "Morning! Morning!" no matter the time of day. #thingsiloveaboutSouthSudan #SouthSudan pic.twitter.com/afe7rD55B3

— Ryan Musser (@gringo_loco) January 15, 2014

Cows w horns shaped like lyres. Trees w bark the colour of koi. Scrabble set made of matchboxes #thingsiloveaboutSouthSudan

— Stephanie Nolen (@snolen) January 12, 2014

The 64 tribes. #ThingsILoveAboutSouthSudan

— Waging Peace. (@modernemeid) January 18, 2014

Appreciation of height. Tall=graceful. Anyone under 5'10 is short (myself included). #thingsiloveaboutSouthSudan pic.twitter.com/Wkk3fYPh7N

— Aguil Lual Blunt (@AguilB) January 15, 2014

#thingsiloveaboutsouthsudan The entire village comes out when you get a flat tire. pic.twitter.com/Q8SB70tluY

— James Turitto (@Sunday_Jimmy) January 15, 2014

#ThingsILoveAboutSouthSudan: Moving house pic.twitter.com/cQgm15GlU0

— Jonah Leff (@jonahleff) January 17, 2014

This guy who likes his office chair so much he rides it to and from work #ThingsILoveAboutSouthSudan pic.twitter.com/PGAUDZtSyY

— John Fenning (@berniefenning) January 15, 2014

#thingsiloveaboutsouthsudan boon (coffee) made with spices, boiled on charcoal, with 4 spoonfuls of sugar! pic.twitter.com/DiDPVN3tB4

— Sarah Will (@willowwistful) January 11, 2014

#ThingsIloveaboutSouthSudan The Greeting gesture- stretching out one's hand and touching the other persons shoulder. Unique

— Hashim Wasswa M (@Hashim11) January 12, 2014

#ThingsILoveAboutSouthSudan Traditional costumes!!!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/T4qJrBnsNv

— إيڤا (@Evalopa) January 11, 2014

#thingsiloveaboutSouthSudan: Not asking for my name (but rather giving me a new one) http://t.co/mLMWCB0Jyb

— Pernille Bærendtsen (@Dunia_Duara) January 11, 2014

#thingsiloveaboutSouthSudan: The most graceful, elegant, beautiful and strongest women on the planet. #SouthSudan women hold up the sky.

— South Sudan Analyst (@SouthSudanPatri) January 11, 2014

#ThingsIloveaboutSouthSudan My Yei family {home for 7yrs} million star nights, tall grass in the wind, a regal people who rise again & again

— michele perry (@micheleperry) January 14, 2014

The modern rural Dinka male embrace of pink feather earrings. #thingsiloveaboutSouthSudan

— Ian Cox (@IanECox) January 11, 2014