As South Sudan commemorates its 12th anniversary of independence, citizens from different areas have expressed their urgent need for sustainable peace, stability, and development to benefit all South Sudanese through improved service delivery.
South Sudan officially gained independence from Sudan on July 9, 2011, marking the end of the first two civil wars in Sudan. The initial Sudanese war, initiated by the Southerners who are now South Sudanese, erupted in 1955 and concluded with the short-lived Addis Ababa Agreement. Another civil war broke out on May 16, 1983, led by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A). In 2005, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was signed between the Sudanese Government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army.
The CPA provided southerners with the opportunity to determine their own future, whether to remain part of Sudan or vote for independence. In 2011, South Sudanese cast their ballots in favour of separating from Sudanese rule.
A resident of Raja County, who preferred anonymity, expressed the hope for stability, emphasizing the need for the construction of roads connecting all counties and states in South Sudan. The citizen also called for improvements in the economy and education.
“My aspiration for South Sudan is stability, development through the construction of well-connected roads across the entire country, and economic growth. Education has suffered tremendously due to the conflicts in Raja County, with the literacy rate plummeting to 2%,” stated a citizen from Raja County, Western Bahr el Ghazal State.
Mawein Kiir, a South Sudanese from the Abyei Administrative Area, stressed the importance of peace and understanding among communities. He expressed his hopes for forthcoming elections to be conducted peacefully, urging South Sudanese to choose a leader who will guide the nation towards progress.
“Peace and stability are the most crucial needs in South Sudan. Misunderstandings among communities have caused significant problems. Once well-constructed, roads will enable free movement of citizens to access their needs. The citizens only desire effective service delivery from the government. In the next period, we expect the government to focus on road construction and ensuring people’s stability,” added Mawein. “Furthermore, we anticipate democratic and nonviolent upcoming elections, allowing all South Sudanese to vote for a leader capable of leading the nation forward.”
Agau Thiep, a civil activist from Aweil town, highlighted that the main objective of independence was to grant South Sudanese citizens their rightful privileges, allowing them to participate in decision-making processes and enjoy essential services such as healthcare, education, and economic opportunities. Thiep acknowledged the challenges faced by the nation, including the ongoing economic crisis and heavy reliance on foreign countries for food supplies.
“The primary reason for our independence is to secure our rights as South Sudanese citizens, to have a voice in decision-making, and to enjoy essential services such as healthcare, education, and economic development. As we celebrate our independence, many goals remain unachieved due to the economic hardships faced by our citizens. Our nation still relies on other countries for food supplies,” explained Thiep.
John Deng, a former county commissioner in Warrap State, emphasized the collective desire of all South Sudanese for peace and security to prevail in the country. Deng expressed the hope that similar conflicts, like those occurring in neighbouring Sudan, would be averted.
“Every South Sudanese, regardless of their location, yearns for peace and security in our country. We do not wish any harm to befall us, similar to the unfortunate situation in Sudan. We pray for God’s intervention to restore peace in our beloved nation, as it is of paramount importance to all South Sudanese,” said Deng.