South Sudanese celebrate the birth of their nation

[Ringel05]

Juba, South Sudan (CNN) -- South Sudanese wept openly as they celebrated their independence Saturday, cheering, whistling and dancing down the streets in a ceremony fitting for the birth of new nation.

"We are free at last," some chanted, flags draped around their shoulders.

A man on his knees kissed the ground.

The red, white and green flag of the newborn nation, readied at half-mast the day before, was hoisted over the capital of Juba.

Among the world leaders bearing witness on this historic day: United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and South African President Jacob Zuma.

"This is liberation, a new chapter," said Abuk Makuac, who escaped to the United States in 1984 and came back home to attend the independence day activities.

"No more war. We were born in the war, grew up in the war and married in war."

South Sudanese celebrate the birth of their nation - CNN.com

 

[LAfrique]

I am so glad the CPA was finally honored! Watched swearing of first president Salva Kirr and the man appeared poised during inaugural speech. Wish the new African nation of South Sudan the best!

 

[Ropey]

South Sudan’s Salva Kiir was sworn in as president of the world’s newest nation on Saturday during a ceremony formally declaring independence from Sudan in the north.

“I … do hereby swear by Almighty God that as the president of the Republic of South Sudan I shall be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Republic of South Sudan,” Kiir said.

Kiir, who read out an oath on a podium before tens of thousands of southerners, said he would be faithful to the country.

James Igga, the South Sudanese parliament Speaker, however, read out the formal declaration of independence for the Republic of South Sudan, the final step in a 2005 deal that followed decades of war between the north and south.

“We, the democratically elected representatives of the people, hereby declare Southern Sudan to be an independent and sovereign state,” Igga said,

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mRucsyxvOU&feature=player_embedded]YouTube - ‪Party continues in South Sudan‬‏[/ame]

Bith Thiyang has served as informal consul of South Sudan to Israel for past five years; Thiyang says things 'will be better' with an independent South Sudanese state.

Sudanese immigrants hopeful over South Sudan's secession

S. Sudan swears in first president

InfoMister

 

[waltky]

Hey! What about all dat Fearless W did fer `em??...

Obama Administration Takes Credit for Birth of South Sudan
Friday, July 08, 2011 - – The important role played by President George W. Bush in setting South Sudan on the road to independence went unacknowledged by Obama administration officials at a briefing Thursday ahead of Saturday’s birth of the world’s newest sovereign nation.

While President Obama’s “steadfast leadership and personal engagement” was noted, Bush was not mentioned once during the briefing by U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice, Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Johnnie Carson and USAID Deputy Administrator Don Steinberg. Rice, who heads a presidential delegation attending the independence celebrations, did recognize the efforts of former Secretary of State Colin Powell – also part of the delegation – and former U.S. envoy to Sudan John Danforth, saying the two had “worked so hard to lay the groundwork for the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.”

But she focused the rest of her acknowledgements on the efforts and achievements of the current administration. “The United States has worked tirelessly to help make the promise of this moment a reality,” she said. “First, it would not have been possible without the steadfast leadership and personal engagement of President Obama, who raised his voice consistently and eloquently as he did before what was a historic gathering at the United Nations last September, where he spoke in support, quote, ‘of a future where, after the darkness of war, there can be a new day of peace and progress.’”

Rice also mentioned Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Carson, Obama’s Sudan special envoy Princeton Lyman, his predecessor, Scott Gration, “and many others.” The Bush administration laid the groundwork for South Sudan’s independence when it led four years of intensive international diplomacy resulting in the landmark 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). The accord ended the two decade-long civil war between the Muslim north and the mostly Christian and animist south that cost two million lives.

The CPA was a blueprint for a six-year period of peaceful power-sharing between the north and south. It provided for a semi-autonomous government in the south, agreements on sharing oil and other resources, national elections in 2010 – billed as Sudan’s first multi-party presidential election in more than two decades – and, on January 9 this year, a referendum on whether the south should secede or remain part of a united Sudan. Bush involved himself personally in the arduous negotiations, calling Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to urge progress on a number of occasions, both during the drawn-out process and after the CPA. Four such phone calls to Bashir took place in December 2003, March 2004, August 2005 and May 2006.

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Obama 'Proud' to Recognize South Sudan
July 09, 2011 - The United States has formally recognized the Republic of South Sudan on its independence day.

President Barack Obama said in a statement Saturday that he is "proud" to extend diplomatic recognition. He said South Sudan's newly declared independence is a "historic achievement" that shows, in his words, "the light of a new dawn is possible" after war. The U.S. president pledged to be a partner to South Sudan's people as they "build their new country" and work to create and maintain "security, development, and responsive governance."

Obama called on the north and south to fully implement the 2005 peace deal that ended the war between them, and to negotiate a resolution for the disputed oil-rich Abyei region. Obama also called on both sides - the northern government in particular - to put an end to violence and intimidation in the northern-controlled state of Southern Kordofan. Intense fighting between northern troops and pro-southern fighters in that state has displaced tens of thousands of people.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also congratulated South Sudan on its independence, saying it was a new beginning for its people. Clinton said this is also an opportunity for the northern government, which has been accused of human rights abuses in its dealings with South Sudan and with genocide in Sudan's Darfur region. Clinton commended Sudan for being the first country to recognize South Sudan's independence and said if the country continues "on the path of peace" it could begin to "redefine its relationship with the international community."

Source

 

[Ropey]

^^ I'd like to see Obama do much more than be 'proud'.

 

[High_Gravity]

^^ I'd like to see Obama do much more than be 'proud'.

Yeah me too. Congratulations South Sudan!