South Sudan formally declared new State

By PETER OPIYO in Juba, South Sudan

A sea of humanity waving miniature flags erupted into delirium to celebrate the birth of a nation, after 21-years of civil war that threatened to throw into uncertainty the future of this oil-rich nation.

In an ordinate defiance to mother nature, South Sudanese braved the scorching heat and danced, clapped, shouted and beat away drums to mark the hard-won secession from the North.

Southern Sudanese celebrate independence from Northern Sudan at midnight in Juba, Saturday, July 9, 2011. South Sudan becomes the world’s newest nation, officially breaking away from Sudan after two civil wars over five decades that cost the lives of millions. (Photo/AP)

Women clad in South Sudan’s flag, wept by the giant statue of liberation hero John Garang De Mabior, draped in national flag, some holding Bibles and small crosses, invoking God’s name for the gift of a new baby.

A mosaic of tunes from all sorts of instruments reflected a poignant frenzy that reached its climax as the country’s flag was hoisted on a 32-metre pole and a three-stanza new anthem sung to signify the birth of the Republic of South Sudan.

The crowds estimated to be more than 500,000 had trooped to the De Mabior Mausoleum grounds four hours ahead of the ceremony to witness the birth of the world’s newest nation and reflect on the effects the civil war pitting the South against the North; a war triggered by the struggle over control and sharing of resources.

The man they blame from this war, President Omar Al-Bashir sat nonchalantly among the dignitaries, perhaps not noticing a banner calling for his arrest over genocide in Darfur that claimed the lives of an estimated 300,000 people.

Supporters of Commander-in-Chief of SPLA, Abdul Wahid, donning white T-shirts bearing pictures of Garang, President Salvar Kiir and Wahid, defiantly waved a banner with the words: “El-Bashir wanted, dead or alive.”

Wahid is the Darfur rebel leader, whose forces are fighting Khartoum in an eight-year insurgency just over South Sudan's border in the north.

The International Criminal Court has issued a warrant of arrest against Bashir over the genocide in Darfur that is said to have claimed about 300,000 lives.

“We thank you Lord, we are happy we pray to our God, Oh Lord Jesus Christ you are able today. The God is able, halleluyah our God. Our brothers died in the bush but today they won’t die,” said a woman overwhelmed with tears of joy.

Kiir arrived at the John Garang Mausoleum to a rapturous welcome, proceeded to pay respect to the man who died six months into the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended the civil war and culminated into Today’s birth of South Sudan.

He also unveiled the Garang’s statue that stands just a couple of metres behind the Independence flag.

South Sudanese had partied all night, shouting and riding on the back of pick-up cars before breaking security cordons in the morning to pour into the site of Independence declaration shouting “South Sudan is free, South Sudan Oyee!”

The South's independence follows decades of conflict with the North in which some 1.5 million people died. It becomes the 54th African State and the world’s 193rd among States recognised by the UN.