Happy 4th Anniversary to the Republic of South Sudan!!
By PaanLuel Wel, Juba, South Sudan
July 9, 2015 (SSB) — The naysayers will have their field day marveling at our “credulity” and government’s “hypocrisy” for celebrating the 4th anniversary of South Sudan’s independence amidst war—massive displacement, destruction and death.
Nonetheless, the essence an independent nation is to have an opportunity to mess up your own house without having the temerity to blame someone else for it lest you feel a big liar. South Sudan is a sovereign state whose freedom was achieved with the precious blood of millions of South Sudanese people for a period spanning over 50 years.
We refuse to be exclusively defined by the ephemeral crisis.
We, South Sudanese people within the country and across the world, ought to commemorate this solemn day, if not for anything else given the current dire state of our nation, then at least as a recognition of all our historic sacrifices offered to achieve this day, for the living memory of all our martyrs and in the name of all our war veterans.
Happy 4th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of South Sudan Junubeen! May peace and reconciliation once more revisit the beloved people of South Sudan!!