South Sudan: In the Name of July 9th – Citizens Views on Independence

South Sudan News Agency (Colorado Springs)

Paanluel Wel

11 July 2011

opinion

Washington D.C — “It is almost impossible to believe that this day has come. I am very happy. Even if I die, I would have seen what we have been fighting for-freedom,” exclaimed Marial, a resident of Juba City, South Sudan.

As we eagerly approach July 9th-the long-awaited independent day of South Sudan-it is incumbent upon us the media to provide an adequate platform for all South Sudanese citizens and their friends, within and outside the country, to air their personal views and opinions on this pivotal day in our long arduous history of socio-eco-political struggle. Imperatively, I have taken it upon myself to gather and broadcast the views, opinions, aspirations, fears, good and bad memories of the war etc of South Sudanese on the culmination of our long history of liberation.

There are two main sources of my information. One is a questionnaire, containing a set of questions, sends out to friends and acquaintances through both email and Facebook page, solemnly urging each and every potential respondent to participate on “this sacred occasion of our independence by answering the following questions to the best of his/her knowledge and ability.” The second primary source of my material is a bonanza of data randomly mined from my humongous numbers of Facebook friends, albeit without neither their permission nor information (welcome to the predatory age of Facebook!!).

Whereas the data extracted from the Facebook page was not necessarily provided for nor expressed with an explicit question(s) in mind, the information grilled from the questionnaire, however, was specifically engineered towards a set of well-defined questions. In addition to querying for such basic information like names/age, location and occupation; other questions asked were how potential respondents feel about the independence of South Sudan and what July 9th mean to them; what their expectations, hopes, aspirations, fears and anxieties are about and for the newly independent state of South Sudan, and what the most challenges that would confront an independent state of South Sudan are and what, in their opinions, should be done about them.

Moreover, potential participants were asked what they consider to have been the most memorable or infamous events or happenings that they would either favorably or sadly remember about our long war of liberation. Lastly, besides being challenged to name top five leaders in the entire history of our struggle that they would be most grateful to for the present independence of South Sudan, prospective respondents were also asked the following touchy question: “as liberated South Sudanese in our own nation, how ideally should we remember and honor our fallen and wounded heroes/heroines, and the war veterans, in the newly independent State of South Sudanese?”

Though the initial response from the contacted individuals was not overwhelming enough as anticipated, it gradually and steadily gained sufficient speed to become substantial enough to provide the basis for this article. The reactions came from South Sudanese within South Sudan and especially those in Juba city; from South Sudanese still residing in Khartoum or in the North; and from South Sudanese in the Diaspora in various countries such as the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zea-land, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia etc. Furthermore, friends of South Sudan from our neighboring countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda or from Western nations like the USA or England, and even surprisingly, some of our former bitter enemies-the Arabs in the North-did join us in ushering in the dawn and the joyous historic birth of the Republic of South Sudan.

What was the response from the participants and the Facebook friends? As would be expected in such kind of emotional time, the response was varied and mixed: a combination of raw emotions gushing freely from a long-suppressed veins characterized by unprecedented joys as well as a cautious and measured opinions about what the future hold for an independent state of South Sudan.

Below are the main selected findings:

As understandably should be expected from a largely religious society as ours, the main first responses were about gratitude and praising to God for granting South Sudanese their independence. These were then closely followed up by, or mixed up together with, welcoming messages announcing the arrival of the soon-to-be born independent state of South Sudan.

Sunday Taabu from the USA, a former official of GoSS Mission in Washington D.C, observed on her Facebook page: “Three days remaining, right? May the Almighty God take the steering wheel and guide us safely to the finishing line. May he bestow His abundant wisdom upon our leaders. Let us match to the finishing line with faith and hope in Him alone, Amen! Yeah! It is a long walk to freedom, and the journey has just begun.”

Chuol Chei, who lives in Minnesota, USA, but currently vacationing in Unity state, South Sudan, declares: “God is great, I am chilling in Nasir right now…New South Sudan Oyeee,” just as Nana Paul from Wau cries out to the Almighty, “Oooh God blesses South Sudan!!”

Meanwhile, KambaBoy, who Lives in Nanyuki, Kenya, beseeches the Great One: “GOD BLESS SOUTHERN SUDAN !”

“South Sudan Forever!!! God Bless South Sudan, You people are truly loved by God!!!”shouted Simon Yaqoob, a foreign friends of South Sudan sucked in by the mighty gravitational force heralding the birth of South Sudan.

Khor Dol, a student of Economics and Trade Policy at Ndejje University in Kampala, Uganda, but originally from Malakal, South Sudan, writes: “this is going to be one of the most memorable day as well as a historical day in the lives of Southern Sudanese…..may God bless this land and everyone shall prosper….Amen.”

And while most people might be all about praising and exalting the Lord of heaven for his perceived graciousness, others have their eyes transfixed on the timing, keenly tracking the arrival of the new born baby as the hour tick its way slowly toward July 9th, 2011.

Writing for the New Sudan Vision, Parek Maduot, a South Sudanese heavy intellectual from Washington, D.C, announces assuredly: “less than 48 hours separate us from the inaugural trumpets announcing the arrival of the Republic of South Sudan among the fraternity of nations.”

As if recalling the first bunch of Christians from Antioch, Johnny Madhang, a South Sudanese student from Sydney, Australia, concurs with Parek Maduot as he takes an exceptional pride in his new forthcoming special status. “Less than 24hrs to score the ball, but it seem Southerners in New South Wales, Australia, will be first citizen of the new nation,” he beams on his Facebook page.

Nyanyai Dau Deng, a South Sudanese young lady writing from the USA but originally from Wau, South Sudan, acknowledges the sacredness of the day: “To all my brothers and sisters, we are at the moment that we have all waited for a very long time for. Let’s celebrate our independence on July 9th. Give thanks to our mothers for our birth during our countries greatest days.”

Whereas July 9th is already a reality in the lives of most South Sudanese, for Augustino Mayom Makuok from Rumbek but currently lives in Israel, however, July 9th is yet a century away: “I am counting the days, when will 9th of July comes? Every now and then I feel like 9th of July is not going to come…but it is in our door.”

It is the same opinion for Panom Koryom from Kampala, Uganda: “Is it excitement or surprise that we are going to have a new nation soon? Can’t believe it guys that it is less than two weeks away for Republic of South Sudan (ROSS) to be officially declared! Be careful to run, for you may fall and be careful to walk, for you may miss it.”

While most South Sudanese are in a sheer celebratory mood, some are trying to offer more somber and thoughtful comments stressing the fact that this day has cost South Sudanese countless lives and untold amount of human and material resources.

Manyang Mayar, a South Sudanese journalist with the Juba Post somberly observed: “It is easy to take liberty for granted, when you have never had it taken from you. Millions laid down their lives so that our country breathes this day. Never forget their sacrifices. Happy Independence Day, the Republic of South Sudan, happy birthday to yoooooooooooooooooou.”

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