Blood and oil tinge South Sudan’s first birthday

2 min read

(Reuters) – South Sudanese celebrating their nation’s first birthday on Monday will bask in the pride of their hard-won political freedom, but many may ask when they will enjoy the material benefits promised by the government of former rebels. Cleaners have swept Juba’s dusty streets, hawkers have been peddling red, green and black national flags, and government workers have hung colorful bunting from lamp posts to prepare for the ceremonies. “Together we walk the land of freedom,” read a 20-foot independence day billboard near the airport showing President Salva Kiir in step beside Vice President Riek Machar. South Sudan split from Sudan after a civil war that killed some 2 million people over two decades, becoming the world’s newest nation. But the jubilation that saturated the ramshackle capital last year has dimmed. The government is struggling to build institutions and stamp their authority over a vast, gun-riddled territory.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/08/us-south-sudan-anniversary-idUSBRE8670KI20120708

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PaanLuel Wël

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PaanLuel Wël is the founder and editor-in-chief of PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd, a news website that covers news, opinions, analysis, history, culture and literature of South Sudan and the world. Founded in July 2011 by PaanLuel Wël to create a platform for free expression and constructive dialogue, the website features articles from various contributors, including columnists, commentators, poets, authors, activists and academics. PaanLuel Wël believes that media can play a vital role in informing, educating and empowering the people to participate in nation-building and social transformation. He also believes that media can foster a culture of dialogue, tolerance and diversity among different communities and groups, and hopes to inspire and mentor the next generation of South Sudanese writers and journalists.

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