Five heads of states to attend S. Sudan’s independence anniversary
July 8, 2013 (JUBA) – The ministry of foreign affairs has revealed that the presidents of Uganda, Mozambique, Somalia, Botswana and Rwanda have confirmed their presence at functions marking South Sudan’s independence anniversary from the north.
According to officials from the ministry, Sudan’s first vice-president, Ali Osman Taha, is also expected to attend celebrations marking South Sudan’s independence two years ago.
However, In Khartoum the official news agency SUNA reported that Sudan’s minister of agriculture and forestry, Abdel Halim Al-Mutafi, will lead the Sudanese delegation instead of Taha.
Tanzania, Kenya and Nigeria were among those countries that earlier confirmed the presence of their head of state at the event, but are no longer attending.
Kenya will, however, send its foreign affairs minister for the occasion.
Meanwhile, the committee of independence is also mobilising citizens, who are expected to turn out in large numbers for the celebrations.
The chairman of the mobilisation committee, Lam Tunguwar, told reporters that 29 million South Sudanese pounds has been approved to cover the cost of independence celebrations.
Flags are flying high on the streets as people eagerly await Tuesday’s celebrations, while security has been beefed up in Juba, with military helicopters seen hovering in the capital since Sunday.
Hooting was also heard on the streets on the eve of independence celebrations marking South Sudan’s split from Sudan following a referendum on 9 July 2011, in which 98% of the country voted in favour of secession.
The John Garang Mausoleum has also remained out of bounds to the public since being closed on Friday.
Sudan Tribune has been unable to contact police spokesperson Col. James Mande for further comment.
Meanwhile, the UN humanitarian coordinator for South Sudan, Toby Lancer, has offered his congratulations to the people of South Sudan.
“On behalf of the humanitarian community, I congratulate the people of South Sudan on the second anniversary of independence. Their resilience and determination are an inspiration to aid organisations and their staff,” he said.
The 2011 vote was part of a 2005 peace deal, ending the decades-ong-conflict between the Sudans.
Two years on, many issues between South Sudan and Sudan remain unresolved, including border demarcation, the status of the disputed border district of Abyei and oil revenues.
The ongoing stand-off has hit the economies of both countries hard and South Sudan is one of the continent’s least-developed countries, in spite of its oil wealth.
(ST)