Southern Sudan Independent Day July 9, 2011
Southern Sudan Independent Day July 9, 2011
Dear distinguish guests, ladies and gentlemen before you is no other than Machar D. Riak. And I want thank You all for coming to this event. I want to thank government Southern Sudan under the leadership of H.E Salva Kiir Mayardit for leading to the independent day. I, am here before you to express the stand of our nation “Republic of Southern Sudan” And without doubt I want to share with you the feeling and profound motions of joyfulness that is dwelling in living citizens of Southern Sudan to witness the said golden plate.
And now it is my privilege to be honored with this chance to tell more about Southern Sudan, a country that need integrity to ensure it prosperity as a nation. And the reason why we are here today is to witness the birth of the nation and rising of the flag. Southern Sudan is that nation, nation, which is achieve with a lot of self-offering and determination to remain on course during struggle.
For those you who don’t know where Southern Sudan is, it is the world newest nation number 196 for which it first independent day is being celebrated today. It also became number 193 in the United Nations (UN). And generally by definition, it is the Southern part of the Africa Larger country knows as “Sudan” from which it seceded.
The realization of today independent took Southerners five decades of civil wars with first war starting in 1955 before Sudan get her independent from British in January 1/1956. This war took 10 years of which two millions people have die. The movement was lead by comrade Joseph Lagu who signs Addis Ababa peace agreement in 1972 promising Southerners to have self-governing under autonomous government. But that agreement was dishonor by the peace partner and power in Khartoum leading to the dissolving of the Anya-nya one and the right of the people was deny entirely.
The unhappy Southerners, whom their right was taken away, remain rigid to the Khartoum government and they remain to object any attempt to dissolve Southern troops completely. This lead to the mutiny of Bor on May 16/1983 and the SPLM/SPLA was formed in Ethiopia with Dr. John Garang as the leader of the movement who led the Movement for 21 years. But in 2005 Both North and Southern Signed an agreement under international pressure to end this war, by signing binding agreement call the (Comprehensive Peace Agreement), which bring the Africa longest war to it end.
The agreement gave the Southerners with Abyei included to have the interim period of six years for self-governing and to vote at the same time to determine their future either to become independent state by seceding from Sudan or to vote in favor of unity and remain to be part of Sudan. The Same agreement gave the people of Blue Nile and Nuba Mountain right to govern themselves for the same period of six years. The two regions were granted with Popular Consultation either join the seceded South or to remain part of the Sudan.
But in January 9,/2011, the people of Southern Sudan vote overwhelmingly in favor of secession with 98%. It is that choice which the people of Sudan Southern made to determine their future, which is being celebrated today. And I have to say that this independent of Southern Sudan will serves as gateway for obtain the right of the people of Blue Nile and the right of the people of Nuba Mountain. Now it clear what choice we made and it will not be difficult for other two regions to make their choice and make it right.
My message to the people of Southern Sudan is that, struggling to get this independent is one thing and developing this nation is another. Our country Southern Sudan is not get-it nation nor is it Promised Land. It is the land of our ancestors and we are the one to defend and build it. It is we the people that need to unite behind our flag. With our Unity for development and peace in Southern Sudan, we are freeing our government deliver service for the people.
Thank You