South Sudan became the latest country in Africa to gain independence from Sudan on July 9 2011.
Since then, Independence Day has been observed, with the commemorations providing chances for taking stock, reflecting on past accomplishments, and laying forth national goals.
This year, however, celebrations to mark the 10th Independence anniversary were shelved as President Salva Kiir blamed western sanctions “which have made us poor”.
There were no mega celebrations to mark the country’s 10th independence anniversary and a few people in Juba city sat in the compounds flanked by their radio sets as President Kiir delivered the 10th independence anniversary speech.
Some citizens who spoke to City Review from the streets of Juba expressed mixed reactions on what lies ahead for the country in the next ten years.
Dudu Suzan (not her real name) described how she felt when South Sudan gained its independence but expressed disappointment on how the gains from independence were short-lived and undone after the country plunged into a conflict that dragged on for nearly six years.
“Looking at the currency of South Sudan, the South Sudanese Pound, I can only relate it to a barren mother who finally miraculously got a child of her own. A beautiful, healthy child, who looks forward to being taken care of; to be nourished and given a chance in life to discover her potential.
Nothing much to relish
“Unfortunately, this barren woman cannot take care of her child. Our currency is slowly, gradually and surely becoming more and more malnourished. It has lost its beauty, it’s losing its weight [and] the chances of becoming its best.”
Garang missed dearly
As for some citizens, the first ten years of the country’s independence would not be a waste if Dr John Garang—the founder of Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA)— was alive.
Zainab Osman, an activist, said Garang was a man of his words and a visionary leader.
“He was someone [who would do what he says]. [I still remember his speech during the signing of the CPA in Nairobi. He said he wanted to see women ululating….[it was] something better for ourselves. We didn’t want to be second class citizens. We wanted to be first-class citizens with all the priorities and powers but now things are different.”
Edmund Yakani, the Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization, said the hopes for independence have been crushed by years of conflict and Garang could have been hurt seeing his vision in ruins.
“He [Garang] would have been the most disappointed person because we messed up the purpose of why we fought for independence. One of the messes we have is that we have become one of the most corrupt states.
“We have become a state that is defined by fragility because of the armed violence that we had and the intercommunal violence that is claiming the lives and property of citizens. Garang would have been disappointed and he would have said, look here: I didn’t fight to have a state that is fragile and a state that does not hold transparency,” Yakani said.
Looking back to the 10 years’ journey after South Sudan’s Independence, Edmund Yakani paints a mixed picture of a country characterised by success and failures.
“Trying to construct roads from the city and into the other towns is very encouraging and that is one of the objectives why we claim to be independent. The governance system is not democratic; it is not encouraging and it is not motivating.”
Justin Daniel, the Spokesperson of the South Sudan National Police Service, recalls the happy moments leading to the referendum and the declaration of independence.
Daniel recalled how a young woman made it to the queue a day to the referendum vote. He described the atmosphere as breathtaking- one that has never been felt before.
Godfrey Bulla, a lawyer, believes that not so much was achieved in the last 10 years because the country was ruled through transitional periods by people who focused less on national development and more on self-aggrandisement.
“This country will only move in the next 10 years if there is genuine peace in the country. If the root causes of all these conflicts are addressed; and if we all South Sudanese accept one another to live with our diverse cultures and accept to live as South Sudanese but not as a tribe,” he said.