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The people of South Sudan wept in joy as they celebrated their independence, cheering, whistling and dancing down the streets in an event that marked the birth of their new nation.
"We are free at last," they chanted as they waved flags held at the mausoleum of the late rebel leader John Garang, who died just months after signing the peace deal that ended Africa’s longest-running conflict.
People on the corners of dirt streets waved flags and danced in the lights of car headlights, chanting "SPLM o-yei, South Sudan o-yei, freedom o-yei." The Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) led the rebels who fought the north until 2005 and now dominates the southern government.
The red, white and green flag, raised at half-mast the day before, was hoisted at an independence and flag-raising ceremony in the capital, Juba.
Officially, South Sudan became an independent country as of midnight Saturday. And people didn’t waste time to start the party. They jumped on to the hoods of cars waving banners and screaming “Freedom!” while others spun up clouds of dust on the dirt roads.
By 6 a.m., hundreds were could be seen making their way to a huge graded field opposite the mausoleum for John Garang, the founder of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army and considered the father of the nation.
After the declaration of independence was read, at 1:25 p.m. Saturday, joy turned to delirium as Sudan’s flag was lowered and the Republic of South Sudan’s, raised.
In attendance to bear witness on this historic day included United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and South African President Jacob Zuma. Others were Kenya’s President Mwai Kibaki, former President of Kenya Daniel Moi, and former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda.
In his speech to the independence ceremony, Sudan president Omar al-Bashir said: "We congratulate our brothers in the south for the establishment of their new state. We share their joy and celebration. The will of the people of the south has to be respected."
"We are free at last," they chanted as they waved flags held at the mausoleum of the late rebel leader John Garang, who died just months after signing the peace deal that ended Africa’s longest-running conflict.
People on the corners of dirt streets waved flags and danced in the lights of car headlights, chanting "SPLM o-yei, South Sudan o-yei, freedom o-yei." The Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) led the rebels who fought the north until 2005 and now dominates the southern government.
The red, white and green flag, raised at half-mast the day before, was hoisted at an independence and flag-raising ceremony in the capital, Juba.
Officially, South Sudan became an independent country as of midnight Saturday. And people didn’t waste time to start the party. They jumped on to the hoods of cars waving banners and screaming “Freedom!” while others spun up clouds of dust on the dirt roads.
By 6 a.m., hundreds were could be seen making their way to a huge graded field opposite the mausoleum for John Garang, the founder of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army and considered the father of the nation.
After the declaration of independence was read, at 1:25 p.m. Saturday, joy turned to delirium as Sudan’s flag was lowered and the Republic of South Sudan’s, raised.
In attendance to bear witness on this historic day included United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and South African President Jacob Zuma. Others were Kenya’s President Mwai Kibaki, former President of Kenya Daniel Moi, and former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda.
In his speech to the independence ceremony, Sudan president Omar al-Bashir said: "We congratulate our brothers in the south for the establishment of their new state. We share their joy and celebration. The will of the people of the south has to be respected."
South Sudan's sovereignty officially breaks Sudan, Africa's largest nation into two, after a January referendum vote overwhelmingly approved.
The referendum was part of a peace deal (Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA)) signed in 2005 that ended decades of civil war pitting a government dominated by predominantly Arab Muslim in the north against Southern black Christians and animists, in a war that has claimed about 2 million lives.
And during the celebrations, some residents paid tribute to relatives killed in the war.
"I lost my family and friends, I am very proud to be the one to hoist our flag on this day," said Sergeant Gordon Dak Diew , who joined the fight to liberate his country at the age of 9 years after he took part in hoisting the flag.
"We lost our brothers, sisters mothers and fathers for this (independence) to happen," said Jackie Adut, who lost some of her family members during the war.
The newly sworn in President preached peace and promised to pursue peace and dialogue to “assure the people of Darfur, Abyei and South Kordofan, we have not forgotten you," referring to three conflict-mired regions.
"When you cry, we cry," he said. "When you bleed, we also bleed.
In Washington DC, President Barack Obama issued a statement recognizing sovereignty of South Sudan.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague told the dignitaries gathered that his nation has opened an embassy in Juba and appointed an ambassador.
South Sudan joins the world as one of its poorest, with people who fled the bloody conflict coming home to a region whose infrastructure is still lacking with few paved roads or no electricity or running water.
South Sudan sits near the bottom of most human development indicators, according to the UN, including the highest maternal mortality and female illiteracy rates. The vast majority of people live on less than a dollar a day, the highest maternal mortality rate in the world and a 27 per cent literacy rate.
Clashes have erupted recently in the disputed border regions of Abyei and South Kordofan. And despite the 2005 peace deal brokered by United States President George W. Bush administration, forces allied to both sides have continued to clash.
Abyei was a battlefield in the brutal civil war between forces of both sides. A referendum on whether the area should be part of the north or the South has been delayed due to disagreements on who is eligible to vote.
The U.N. Security Council, which voted to send up to 7,000 peacekeepers and 900 uniformed police to South Sudan, is scheduled to meet on Wednesday to discuss U.N. membership for the new South Sudan nation.
As foreign dignitaries gathered in Juba to celebrate the new nation, world leaders warned of a tough road ahead.
Mr Salva Kiir, who signed the constitution and took oath of office in front of a jubilant crowd, said South Sudan faces a number of challenges, ranging from conflict, poverty and economic hardships.
“It’s important for us to note that this land has seen many sufferings and deaths,” Mr Kiir said, adding, “It is also important for us to forgive, though we shall not forget…we have been at the receiving end of injustice for the past decades.
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| Kenya's President Daniel Moi attended the celebrations. His regime played a pivotal role in the 2005 agreement that led to South Sudan's Independence. |
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| Embattled Truth and Reconciliation Chairman Bethwel Kiplagat was also in attendance as well as Deputy PM Musalia Mudavadi, Immigration Minister Otieno Kajwang and his Lands Counterpart James Orengo. Also present were Henry Kosgei, Sally Kosgei. Ms Mirugi (Special Programs) former Finance Minister David Mwiraria and Businessman Fidel Odinga. |
