S. Sudan shrugs off gloom to celebrate year of freedom
JUBA — South Sudan has put aside dire warnings over the stability and economic viability of the fledgling nation, the world’s newest, to celebrate its first year of independence.
Crowds took to the streets of the capital Juba on Monday, with people crammed into cars driving around the city and honking horns to mark the first anniversary since separating from former civil war foes Sudan.
“We have fought for our right to be counted among the community of the free nations and we have earned it,” South Sudanese President Salva Kiir told a crowd of several thousand gathered in the baking sun at a military parade.
Grossly impoverished South Sudan has spent the past year wracked by border wars with the rump state of Sudan, as well as internal violence and the shutdown of its vital oil production in a bitter dispute with Khartoum.
But Kiir, speaking at the grave of the late rebel leader John Garang, said the fledgling nation must do more to cut corruption, and learn to step away from the massive donor support that props up the country.
“To the extent that we still depend on others, our
Category: South Sudan News
Subscribe
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.
