World

Celebration: South Sudan Splits From the North, Becomes Independent Nation

JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — South Sudan raised the flag of its new nation for the first time Saturday, as thousands of South Sudanese citizens and dozens of international dignitaries swarmed the new country capital of Juba to celebrate the country’s birth.

South Sudan became the world’s newest country Saturday with a raucous street party at midnight. At a packed mid-day ceremony, the speaker of parliament read a proclamation of independence as the flag of Sudan was lowered and the flag of South Sudan was raised, sparking wild cheers from the crowd.

“Hallelujah!” one resident yelled, as other wiped away tears.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and dozens of other world leaders were in attendance under a blazing sun as South Sudan President Salva Kiir hosted the noon-hour ceremony. Sudan President Omar al-Bashir, a deeply unpopular man in Juba, arrived to a mixture of boos and surprised murmurs.

“Wow, this is a great day for me because it’s a day that reflects the suffering that all southerners have had for almost 50 years,” said David Aleu, a 24-year-old medical student.

Thousands of South Sudan residents thronged the celebration area, and organizers soon learned they did not have enough seats for all the visiting heads of state and other VIPs. The heat was strong enough that Red Cross workers attended to many people who fainted.

“We’re overwhelmed. We did not know that the whole world was going to join us in our celebration,” the ceremony’s announcer said.

The black African tribes of South Sudan and the mainly Arab north battled two civil wars over more than five decades, and some 2 million died in the latest war, from 1983-2005. It culminated in a 2005 peace deal that led to Saturday’s independence declaration.

Thousands of South Sudanese poured into the ceremonial arena when gates opened. Traditional dancers drummed in the streets as residents waved tiny flags. Activists from the western Sudan region of Darfur, which has suffered heavy violence the past decades, held up a sign that said “Bashir is wanted dead or alive.” Bashir has been indicted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes in Darfur.

“We came to say welcome to our brothers from the south. We came also to remind the world that the problem in Darfur is continuing,” said Nimir Mohammed.

The leader of the U.S. delegation, Susan Rice, the American ambassador to the U.N., was expected to send greetings from the world‘s oldest democracy to the world’s newest state.

China – which has a big interest in Sudan’s oil – sent a delegation. Uganda President Yoweri Museveni – South Sudan’s southern neighbor – was among the many African leaders.

South Sudan is expected to become the 193rd country recognized by the United Nations next week and the 54th U.N. member state in Africa.

Though Saturday is a day of celebration, residents of South Sudan must soon face many challenges. Their country is oil-rich but is one of the poorest and least-developed on Earth. Unresolved problems between the south and its former foe to the north could mean new conflict along the new international border, advocates and diplomats warn.

Violence has broken out in the contested border region of Abyei in recent weeks, and fighting is ongoing in Southern Kordofan, a state that lies in Sudan – not South Sudan – but which has many residents loyal to the south. The 1,300-mile (2,100-kilometer) north-south border is disputed in five areas, several of which are being illegally occupied by either northern or southern troops.

The young government faces the huge challenge of reforming its bloated and often predatory army, diversifying its oil-based economy, and deciding how political power will be distributed among the dozens of ethnic and military factions. It must also begin delivering basic needs such as education, health services, water and electricity to its more than 8 million citizens.

While South Sudan is now expected to control of more than 75 percent of what was Sudan’s daily oil production, it has no refineries and southern oil must flow through the north’s pipelines to reach market.

But for Saturday, at least, those problems lay on the back burner. Smiles, singing and dancing instead took precedence.

Adut Monica Joseph waited for the ceremony with her sister and uncle as world leaders arrived. She said she looked forward to a day when women in South Sudan don’t face the hardships they have in recent decades. The risk to the mother of death during child birth is extremely high in the poor and underdeveloped rural south.

“I’m very grateful to see many people from other countries,” said the 22-year-old. “I’m appreciating that they have come to celebrate with us. I hope when we have independence we shall have freedom and education for women.”

Comments (32)

  • TomFerrari
    Posted on July 11, 2011 at 9:53am

    Globe manufacturers are gonna be making money in the next decade – this, and then all the muslims fighting each other, and obama giving away the sovereign nation of Israel to muslims who want to murder all the Jews…

    good time to own a map and globe company.

    Report Post » TomFerrari  
  • zoro51
    Posted on July 10, 2011 at 1:19pm

    as was fortold… as it was fore told….

    Report Post » zoro51  
  • scubadogg
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 7:28pm

    Love the Blaze (most of the time, with the exception of some of the more tabloid-like items) – however, some fact-checking really needs to be done sometimes, even if some facts may come from other entities’ press releases… The line, “The leader of the U.S. delegation, Susan Rice, the American ambassador to the U.N., was expected to send greetings from the world‘s oldest democracy to the world’s newest state.” – should be edited. Firstly, the US is NOT a democracy, we are a Republic. Secondly, we aren’t the worlds oldest. Our current government is 222 years old, we have existed as a nation for 235 years. Iceland’s Parliament (the Althing) has been in existence for more than 930 years…

    Report Post »  
  • Bernard
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 4:14pm

    The birth of a new nation.
    South Sudan has a population of 8.5 million people, mostly Christian but also animist faiths (nature worshipers). It is the size of France and is so fertile from the blue Nile and other rivers, one Indian article reported that it could feed the entire population of India or Africa when fully developed..

    India is sending Mahindra tractors to develop her agriculture and more than China has played a crucial role in Sudan’s oil industry. South Sudan is now the world’s most poorest nation and her literacy rate is at 15%. Now India with her 160 million Muslims will have to play a balancing game between these two nations.
    As for the transportation of South Sudan’s oil, she can bypass Sudan and sign treaties with Eritrea and Ethiopia to build a pipeline through those nations, as done in other troubled parts of the world.

    Report Post »  
  • Diogenes41
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 3:18pm

    Souht Sudan is predominately non-Muslim. North Sudan has invaded south Sudan and forced hundreds of thousands non Muslims to flee, then they torched their homes in Abyei, which was predominately non-Muslim. The religion of peace strikes again and has been responsible for thousands of deaths of Christians in South Sudan. One reliable estimate puts the number at 1.1 million killed by Muslims around the world in the past decade.

    Report Post »  
  • mtorres20
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 12:56pm

    I for one am happy for the South Sudanese Nation. Christian Nation is born from the oppression of Islamic North. I look forward to Christianity pushing back the Islamic Cult and one day freeing Africa of this Evil Cult.

    Report Post » mtorres20  
  • oldsoldier10
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 9:53am

    nothing good has ever come for africa ever

    Report Post » oldsoldier10  
    • Godfather.1
      Posted on July 9, 2011 at 6:31pm

      Really? Africa has resources that the rest of the world uses every day. Also, have you ever heard of a person named Nelson Mandela? How about Didier Drogba, he has done more for those in need than people like you could ever imagine.

      Report Post »  
    • Godfather.1
      Posted on July 9, 2011 at 6:33pm

      And Charlize Theron. Oh, wait, she couldn‘t be from Africa because she’s pretty, right?

      Report Post »  
  • squeakyb1066
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 9:24am

    I don’t know if anyone here realizes that this was prophecy from Isaiah chapter 18 that we have just witnessed. Look it up for yourself it is all right there. I was amazed when I learned about this about a month ago when I saw this video by Pastor Ray Bentley on the subject: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVC3prQdu70

    Report Post »  
    • Chet Hempstead
      Posted on July 9, 2011 at 4:33pm

      I read it and was surprised to learn that the Sudanese still go to sea in vessels of bulrushes even now in the twenty-first century. That’s going to make it really hard for them to export their oil.

      Report Post »  
  • orlandojon
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 9:07am

    How long before they ask for handouts? Guessing it’s already happened

    Report Post »  
  • frongjumping
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 8:53am

    What is wrong with you people? The South Sudanese wanted independence because most of the population is Christian and they were fed up with the tyranny of the Muslim-dominated north (see: the decades-old practice of kidnapping and forced conversion of Christian children by Muslims in Sudan). Would you not have fought for your freedom if you were in their place? We, of all people, should know that liberty is more precious than all the blood and treasure in the world, so we should be hoping that South Sudan can manage to cling to its newfound liberty and never relinquish it.

    Report Post »  
    • Amy
      Posted on July 9, 2011 at 9:49am

      Frongj – since my post on the lost boys of Sudan did not post – I applaud yours!

      Report Post » Amy  
    • Ledcow
      Posted on July 9, 2011 at 10:59am

      Frong thank you for for at least one person not making ignorant statements on here. They see Sudan and Africa and automatically assume the worst. Yes they will be one of the most under-developed and poorest countries in the world, but they have been fighting for this for 50 years. The world gained a new predominately Christian country, and it’s people will surely understand the true value of freedom and end of oppression. Most likely to a greater extent the people posting disparaging remarks, and taking their freedoms for granted.

      Report Post »  
    • gramma b
      Posted on July 9, 2011 at 12:20pm

      The Southerners have been guilty of just as many human rights violations as the North. And, a lot of the fighting has been because the South wanted to draw the lines in a way that would give it all of Sudan’s oil fields. There are no good guys here.

      Report Post »  
    • Watchingtheweasels
      Posted on July 10, 2011 at 12:55pm

      Given the sympathies of the mainstream media, most of the reporting about Sudan has swept the murder and enslavement of southern Sudanese by the Muslims in northern Sudan under the rug. You can expect coverage of this independence day to do the same. Now, those in southern Sudan have borders, the right to raise a military force and fight the Muslim aggressors on even terms. Good luck and Godspeed to them.

      Report Post »  
  • Sicialian Eyeball
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 8:42am

    From one cr-p hole to,two. Another commie vote in the UN for sure.

    Report Post »  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 8:13am

    Hooray, a new welfare state is born! How much will this cost us?

    Report Post » Gonzo  
  • RepubliCorp
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 7:41am

    Can we make California become a separate country?

    Report Post » RepubliCorp  
    • Ballgame
      Posted on July 9, 2011 at 7:47am

      +1 to that.

      Report Post » Ballgame  
    • BehindBlueEyes
      Posted on July 9, 2011 at 7:59am

      It’s already a separate country by American standards. The only thing they have in common with the rest of the country is they’re broke too.

      Report Post » BehindBlueEyes  
    • jb.kibs
      Posted on July 9, 2011 at 8:28am

      either make them seperate or we stop ‘following their examples’…. like… why do all states buy books just because california buys a certain one? i don’t care if they purchase the most copies of “everybody poops”, that doesn’t mean that WE have to buy them….
      to me, that is a prime example of communism. pick one thing, force everyone else to use it, no competition, no choice, nothing, you just get what you get because some elitist decided it for you.

      if they decide to teach that the world is flat, all of our books will also teach that. If they teach that gender is no longer a biological classification, so will the rest of the states… we are consciously deevolving because of California.
      thanks a lot, douchebags…

      Report Post »  
    • jeffile
      Posted on July 9, 2011 at 11:29am

      Sorry, but it is books adopted by Texas schools which are the guiding force not California. This misconception is the same as the gay issue. California is hardly the first state to legalize gy marriage. It goes to show that there are Bubbas in every state who deride gay but are themselves gay. Another point are you ready for the financial disaster is if California were to leave the union? Many states cannot survive without enormous federal assistance provided primarily from California. I’m not trying to defend the state only setting the record straight. If you are going to argue a point then have your facts straight or at least understand the repercussions of your ignorance.

      Report Post »  
    • Godfather.1
      Posted on July 9, 2011 at 6:26pm

      Sure, make it a different country and the rest of the country will suffer greatly. CA has the largest economy of any state and has a larger economy than all but eight countries. The majority of the country’s food is produced in CA, so I guess you won’t mind having all of your food imported from now on. CA also receives much less in federal aid than it pays in taxes whereas most red states take in way more federal aid than they pay. Thus, conservative states will no longer have financial support since they can’t support themselves.

      Face it, as much as you hate CA, you need it.

      Report Post »  
  • Rob_M
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 7:37am

    Yeah, odds are it won’t solve their problems but if it can help best of luck to them all.

    Report Post » Rob_M  
  • heavyduty
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 7:29am

    Now there will probably be a civil war for years to come.

    Report Post »  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on July 9, 2011 at 7:37am

      More likely there will be a full scale warfare to come that will make the past civil war pale by many magnitudes; at this time BOTH of the Sudanese nations will be very vulnerable to external forces, and to those inside as well who will wish to bring their own rule to the masses. I wish them luck with the new nation, for they shall need it.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • nysparkie
      Posted on July 9, 2011 at 7:42am

      Oil? Money to be made? China is involved who has more of our money than we do? Yup you are right.
      War, violence, power grabbing, war……for sometime to come.

      Report Post » nysparkie  
    • BehindBlueEyes
      Posted on July 9, 2011 at 7:54am

      There isn‘t a single country in the entire continent of Africa I’d want to visit or live. What a screwed up bunch of people and governments. Good luck on this new development.

      Report Post » BehindBlueEyes  
    • Rational Man
      Posted on July 9, 2011 at 2:24pm

      It sounds good on the surface. I hate to rain on the parade,but, the violence between the different tribes and Christian persecution will continue. Don’t forget, we are talking about dealing with Muslims here. Not to mention all the tribal and territorial fighting. My heart has gone out to the Christians in Southern Sudan for years and I love them very much. But I have to say I have little hope for peace and prosperity for them. China after all, is on the side of the Muslims………………

      Report Post » Rational Man  
    • justafollower
      Posted on July 10, 2011 at 6:49pm

      There’s been a civil war already for over a decade. You negative nelly’s better catch on to reality! I mean seriously, it’s awesome. Hopefully, their new governments makes the right decisions and follows the right path, they could be a great nation someday.

      I”m not uber knowledgeable about Sudan. But I know the Christians have been oppressed there for many years. Hopefully, this means for religious liberty for them.

      Report Post » justafollower  

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