By John Chol Daau in Juba, South Sudan
“We thank God at this time, the birth of a new nation, South Sudan, is real,” proclaimed Paul Deng Chol, an Anglican priest in Juba, South Sudan. This is one of many statements of gratitude expressed by South Sudanese citizens as they wait to celebrate their Independence Day on July 9, 2011. This new nation becomes the 54th country on the continent of Africa while the world welcomes the Republic of South Sudan as its 196th country. This will actually be the second time the people of South Sudan will celebrate an independence day. As pointed out by the Africa Messenger, July 2011, “On January 1, 1956, the nation of Sudan officially became independent of British rule, and the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum immediately began a campaign of persecution in south Sudan, including the expulsion of most foreign missionaries.” In January of this year, the citizens of southern Sudan voted overwhelmingly to separate from northern Sudan during the referendum vote granted by the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended the more than twenty years of civil war between the North and the South. The Christian dominated southern Sudan has been at war with the Islamic north for more than two decades. Dr. Grant LeMarquand, Professor of Mission and Biblical Studies and expert in Sudanese Christian history notes that, “Sudan has a painful history of civil conflict.” Before Sudan became independent on January 1, 1956, northern efforts to Islamize southern Sudan led to a civil war between the Arab northerners and non-Arab southerners that lasted from 1956 to 1972. Religious tensions, political power, and an uneven sharing of resources in the oil rich country are mentioned as the main causes of the longest civil war on the continent. This war caused many families to face execution, starvation, and many other untold brutalities. Over 2.5 million people died and about five million others have been displaced as refugees inside and outside of the country. However, the people of southern Sudan are now eagerly putting the final touches on the long awaited Independence Day celebration. On this day, Saturday, July 9, 2011, southern Sudan will be free from the Islamic Sharia oriented regime based in Khartoum. July 9th will be one of the most significant days in history of South Sudan. According to the Minister of Roads and Transport for the government of South Sudan, Mr. Anthony Makana, “About two thousand dignitaries, including heads of states” have been invited to attend the ‘BIG DAY,’ or ‘The Declaration Day’, as many refer to it here in Juba, the future capital of the new Republic of South Sudan. Workers are busy day and night, putting together the final touches on the single runway at Juba International Airport. In interviews with the BBC, Makana disclosed that, “Juba International Airport will be receiving about 70 to 80 planes” during the week of celebration. “The airport has never received planes at night since South Sudan was created,” he said. Therefore, the Government of South Sudan has assured the world that the airport is well lit and adequately equipped to meet international standards that ensure safety and security. Sources close to the Government of South Sudan have also confirmed that notices have been circulated to the public that the airport will not operate for the usual commercial flights from the 6th through 12th of July, 2011. This is to accommodate the landing and takeoff of both chartered and presidential jets, which will be ushering invited dignitaries from around the world in and out of Juba. Clean up of Juba The city of Juba, the capital of the South, together with other towns across South Sudan is readily warmed up to the full as the preparations reach a climax. A thorough cleaning of the less than 10 miles of the paved roads in the city of Juba is underway, and beautification of the streets is taking place. Many billboards are declaring, ‘This is our new country,’ ‘Celebrating the birth of a new nation,’ and ‘Thank you, Dr. John Garang de Mabior.’ Another giant board with a portrait of soldiers in uniform from Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) is positioned close by the premises of the University of Juba and says, “We fought, suffered, survived, and won the freedom together from the oppressor.” Shops, kiosks, houses, and government buildings are being painted and decorated. Shops along the roads around Dr. Garang Memorial Museum have been demolished to provide enough around where the President of South Sudan, H.E Salva Kiir Mayardit will address the nation. A rehearsal of the new South Sudan National Anthem, involving several choirs, just ended last week. One school teacher from Juba Girls’ School mentioned that several choirs, including some from the churches, schools, and other institutions, will perform on the big day. South Sudanese from various parts of the world are arriving in Juba in large numbers in order to join in for the celebration in their own country. John J. Atem, a graduate of the University of Nairobi and a diplomat in the Foreign Mission of the Government of South Sudan said, “I consider it a personal obligation that I must celebrate the Independence Day in South Sudan. It is an event one could not afford to miss, for this is a privilege and a blessing to be a part of.” Mr. Atem gently reminds the people of South Sudan, “We must be thankful first to the Almighty God and to our heroes and heroines who have fought sacrificially to enable us to achieve this freedom at last.” ‘Thieec Nhialic,’ translated as ‘Kneel and Ask God’ and also known as ‘Youth Mama,’ an Anglican group of women of prayer and intercession from Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya, arrived in Juba hoping to perform on the stage on ‘the day of hoisting the national flag’ as some of the Mamas refer to the occasion. Security is tight and in place with roads leading to government ministries and parliament closed up until the big day. Violence in Nuba mountains Unfortunately, the ongoing violence in the Nuba Mountains, in the disputed town of Abyei, and in the border regions of South Sudan has raised worries of a return to conflict between the South and the North. It is no longer a secret that some militia groups and rebel forces within South Sudan formed by renegade former commanders from the SPLA, particularly Peter Gadet and George Athor, have now turned against the Government of Southern Sudan. They cite issues of corruption and nepotism as the reasons for their disgruntlement. It is widely alleged that the Government of Sudan (GoS) in Khartoum sponsors these rebels within South Sudan to sabotage and threaten the independence of South Sudan. The activities of these rebel groups have caused insecurity and the forceful displacement of civilian populations, especially in the border areas of South Sudan. One official from the Government of South Sudan who has asked to remain anonymous said, “The forces of Peter Gadet have equipped themselves militarily to the full, ready to disrupt the big day.” In the Nuba Mountains, as well as in Darfur, media reports have broadly confirmed that the United Nations has already alerted the world that there is humanitarian crisis in the Nuba Mountains and in Abyei similar to what happened in Darfur. Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir is already facing war crime charges in the International Criminal Court for the Darfur conflict. As the new nation of South Sudan gains its independence, there are many concerns awaiting its leadership. These include issues with borderlines between the South and North, the issue of citizenship, the national debt, and plans for the sharing of oil and other resources in the south. South Sudan lacks many basic services and infrastructure, such as health care, clean water, and a working education system. Most of the population in South Sudan lives under abject poverty, 9 out of 10 people surviving on less than a dollar a day. These are critical issues the new government will have to deal with head on. The Reverend John Chol Daau is a priest of the Episcopal Church of Sudan (Anglican), currently a Missionary Lecturer at the Institute of Christian Ministries and Training, Daystar University, Nairobi, Kenya. He is also the Founder and Managing Editor of the New Sudan Christian newspaper, a publication of The Good Shepherd Leadership Training Center. Edited by Moses Wasamu, editor of the New Sudan Christian Newspaper.
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