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Sudan Tribune

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Citizens in Juba welcome vote for South Sudan independence

January 7, 2011 (JUBA) – In Juba, the South Sudan capital, emotional scenes filled the atmosphere as hundreds thronged to the John Garang mausoleum, to follow live proceedings on Southern Sudan television (SSTV) of the regions referendum results on projectors.

Hundreds of southern Sudanese attentively follow proceedings on televison as the final result of the region's independence referendum were announced in Khartoum. Feb 7, 2011 (ST)
Hundreds of southern Sudanese attentively follow proceedings on televison as the final result of the region’s independence referendum were announced in Khartoum. Feb 7, 2011 (ST)

After decades of civil war, South Sudan’s independence vote, announced in Khartoum, is the last major landmark in of a 2005 peace deal between former rebels the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and Khartoum government.

While some ecstatic members of the crowd shed tears of joy, others occasionally waved the regional flag and danced to the music being played by Southern Sudanese local artists on SSTV.

“We shall party till morning. This is the day we have been waiting for. Southern Sudan oyee! SPLM oyee! Separation oyee!” John Alier, a Juba university student chanted as he waved his flag.

Clement Aligo, who simply described himself as a “true Sudanese” wondered why the results were being announced in Khartoum, when it was a referendum meant for the self-determination of the southern population.

The giant screen that relayed the live proceedings from Sudan's capital Khartoum to the southern capital Juna on Monday. Feb 7, 2011 (ST).
The giant screen that relayed the live proceedings from Sudan’s capital Khartoum to the southern capital Juna on Monday. Feb 7, 2011 (ST).

“I am not happy with the whole thing. How can results for the referendum of South Sudan be announced in Khartoum of all places? Are they planning to cheat us even after we voted for separation,” a seemingly disturbed Aligo, clad in an orange t-shirt told Sudan Tribune at the mausoleum.

Widespread celebrations rocked the suburbs of Juba, moments after the final results were declared by the Southern Sudan Referendum Commission Chairperson, Khalil Ibrahim. Public places including Munuki payam [district], located about 5km northwest of Juba were full of revelers, who danced and chanted freedom slogans.

Similar celebratory scenes were reported to have occurred in Gudele, Jebel Kujur and Konyo-Konyo areas, all located outside the regional capital. At the mausoleum, named after the late leader of South Sudan’s former rebel movement, the SPLM, revelers vowed to party till the late hours of Tuesday morning.

(ST)

13 Comments

  • Anyang
    Anyang

    Citizens in Juba welcome vote for South Sudan independence
    Delightfully, let call the bygone be bygone and let’s start fresh! thank you.

    Reply
  • Anyang
    Anyang

    Citizens in Juba welcome vote for South Sudan independence
    Hi landlord,

    It’s unworthy to stress the word”togetherness” when you are not prepared to be a dvocate of the real change.Since you know that, charity begin at home, therefore it’s advisable that, you must first set a tone to be able to pursuade and sway the general public or else yours may be regarded as a mere rhetoric without substance at all.

    Literally, I hope the people of Southern Sudan are prepared to embrace one’s another and majestically embark on the course of nation building given their strong believes in better future and in this case a better future need oneness or in the other word it need us all despite our differences.

    Finally, to they tribalist diehard, I personally choose to challenge each of you who are deeply overwhelm by tribalism to atleast show me/us your good side or how’s honest/patriot you think you are to us and the nation? Otherwise,thank.

    Reply
  • Aleu
    Aleu

    Citizens in Juba welcome vote for South Sudan independence
    Dear Southern Sudanese people.

    The history of young nation has come for us to belief it that, there is nothing important than trying and trying over and over again. As we all know that, there were Southern Sudanese movement which had failed to reached the demanding of Southern Sudanese people, who were looking for this answer that, we are very fortunate to have found the answer in Today.

    The late Kerubino Kuanyin Bol and William Nyuon Bany are absolutely the winner of this Southern Sudan independence. On the other hand also the late William Deng Nhial who was been murdering by the Sadiq al Mahdi just because of the name of Southern Sudan to be heard and the founder of the SPLA/SPLM that had remain clearly mausoleum without any doubt I think they are officially they fathers of the young nation of Southern Sudan. This is the moment for all of us we Southern Sudanese people to says, thanks our SPLA late heroic men for offering their lives in the name of this young nation in Africa nations. This is the moment for all Southern Sudanese people to thanks these our late Kerubino Kuanyin Bol and William Nyuon Bany who acknowlege tactices use by the North leader Mr, Jaafar was tried to relocated ranks of Southern Sudanese to the North part or Western Darfuri and this is the moment also to thank the late founder of the SPLA/SPLM Dr. John Garang de Mabior Atem for his talent of handling the SPLA/SPLM movement with good structure that, lead Southern Sudanese to young nation otherwise, the dream of Southern Sudanese wouldn’t come alone.

    Let us not forget to thanks all SPLA Cdrs who have been really the tools of the SPLA Movement for two decades and indeed, we must have to reognizing every each individuals of the SPLA Veteran serving in the movement and we must respected them and treating them dearly, friendly and sincerely for their serving in the SPLA Movement in many years. It is my admiration to say, after Southern Sudan independence done then, the leaders of New nation must finding a way of supporting Veterans of the SPLA in term of services like job, school, houses and their financial supports to their family. If anyone from the SPLA Veterans want to learn then, GOSS must do everything possible.

    I would like to reminding you guys that, the patience has to be one of those successful strategic to have it. I know some people would say, the Southern Sudan has gain now independence by the CPA, and not by gun solution, but make no mistake to understand that, the CPA did not come alone on the Table but the SPLA struggle had made it to happen. I hope the patience will teach Southerners Sudanese in many ways on how it is important to have that, kind of skill for your future and to do good for your nation.

    The best thing I can tell for Southern Sudan president is the patient he had in all these years of the SPLA struggle and after the CPA. Personal I want to thank him very much although I have quite difference for some time particular, the transfering of Warrap’s Capital to Kuacjok is remain to be seen as he was the one who did that indirect way with others Cdrs, but I have to thank him when it come to Southern Sudan level.

    For those Southern Sudanese who felt doubt in Juba, about the announcement far away that took place in Khartoum rather than Juba. Frankly speaking, there is nothing will change the historical and the truth which the whole world have been witness about 99% votes correctly for its independence and it is the rights of the Southern Sudanese people that, no one will overriding them, because this is the reality and I would say why not put away your skepticism and think what is next you can do to make sure your young nation is workable and durable constitutional. Southern Sudan nation I think it need to rebuilt by the combination of Ideas of Southern Sudanese people and I wish Southerners Sudanese should put away their negative and try to come up with love each other and respectful to work on the development rather than unnecessarily on the political rhetorical.

    As the Southern Sudan is about to be put in the world’s Map. The nation mean many things but first, we must avoiding the grouping people tribe by tribes this is not only a bad thing, but certainly it shown the people are so stupid. The nation it may mean the people of the land which claim you by either environmental or the nature blood. If I ask one of the Southern Sudanese to tell me why our population haven’t grow what is reason.? I think the person will list up war, diseases and food shortage and leave tribalism which has played a significantly damaging of Southern Sudanese population in the Sudan.

    Therefore, the list for the things to be fix, in my mind should start with tribalism, our culture corruption, limiting more Parties to two or three Parties, desperation of needing leadership, lawless,favoritism,cronyism,nepotism and you can name it hundred the lists of things that must be fix. Let us put away the hateful Ideas and take loving each other as U.S. President said, ”we are one people and one nation no matter where we came from and no matter how we look like, we are all one people. Can Southern Sudanese take this Idea as one people and one nation no matter how many languages we spoke in Southern Sudan and no matter how funny is our shape look differently that,some look too tall and others look too shorts, we are all Southerners Sudanese people with common stories.

    Reply
  • Willy
    Willy

    Citizens in Juba welcome vote for South Sudan independence
    Thanks to dear southerners who have committed to comments on this site, all in all this was our dream and a dream of our fore fathers and something under God’s guidance since we are the most marginalised people in this world, i hope we will continue with that spirit of our young nation

    God bless Southern Sudan

    Wol Athuai

    Reply
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