Returning Sudan refugees mean peace still a pipe dream

The Republic of South Sudan became independent on July last year. The din of drums, lilting roars of a new National Anthem, the dust of thousands of dancing, stamping feet and hurried speeches by equally harried state officials marked the birth of Africa’s youngest nation-state.

Hope of a life at ‘home’, plots, plans and blueprints of a thriving, oil-powered economic juggernaut were imagined and entertained. But alas, the drums of jubilation are beating to a different beat. These are the all-too-familiar drums of war.