Nationhood dream is fulfilled for South Sudan

THE people of South Sudan get their own country today, an emotional independence celebration few thought possible during a half century of civil wars and oppression that left more than two million dead.
By The Newsroom
Published 9th Jul 2011, 08:00 BST

Military parades and celebrations will burst forth in front of dozens of visiting world leaders. But when that party ends, South Sudan must face grim realities.

It will be one of the most underdeveloped countries on the planet, only 15 per cent of its citizens can read and fears of renewed conflict abound.

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Its successful independence drive was made possible by a 2005 peace deal between Sudan’s north and south. Last January, former guerrilla fighters shed tears as they cast votes to break away from the control of the Khartoum-based north. Among those who cast ballots at special US polling stations were some of the 3,800 war orphans known as the Lost Boys of Sudan, who ran away from war and were taken in by US communities.

Albino Gaw, 38, a member of a minority tribe who works for the government in Juba, said he was excited about the independence, but the former child soldier is pessimistic about how much work there is ahead.

“The day will be good but people are expecting something more than we’ve gotten in the past five years,” he said. “A lot of work needs to be done by the government. Otherwise things will be like they were before.”

South Sudan’s president, Salva Kiir, will host the country’s inauguration, due to be attended by United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon, former US secretary of state Colin Powell, US ambassador to the UN Susan Rice and General Carter Ham, commander of the US Africa Command.