South Sudan formally declares independence

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South Sudan has hoisted its national flag just minutes after declaring independence and becoming the world’s newest sovereign state to wild applause, tears and song.

“We shall never, never surrender,” the crowd chanted, as people whistled and wiped tears from their eyes.

“I should cry for the recognition of this flag among the flags of the world,” shouted one tearful man.

“We have been denied our rights. Today, no more shall that happen.”

The South Sudanese parliament speaker read out the formal declaration of independence for the Republic of South Sudan, the final step in a 2005 deal that followed decades of war between the north and south.

“We, the democratically elected representatives of the people, hereby declare Southern Sudan to be an independent and sovereign state,” speaker James Wani Igga said, splitting Africa’s largest country in two.

The declaration of independence affirmed the new state’s democratic and multi-ethnic and multi-confessional character, and its commitment to friendly relations with all countries “including the Republic of Sudan”, Mr Igga said.

The parliament speaker said that as a “strategic priority,” South Sudan would seek admission to the United Nations, the African Union, the east African bloc IGAD and other international bodies.

South Sudan’s Salva Kiir was sworn in as president.

“I … do hereby swear by Almighty God that as the president of the Republic of South Sudan I shall be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Republic of South Sudan,” Mr Kiir said, reading out an oath on a podium before tens of thousands of southerners.

Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir was guest of honour at the ceremony, and watched a parade by thousands of members of the former rebel army that he failed to defeat in 16 years command of the northern forces.

From early morning, revellers gathered at the venue, singing songs and carrying flags, amid tight security for the ceremony, which was attended by scores of African leaders and senior Western officials.

It was the largest international gathering ever seen in the war-damaged former garrison town on the White Nile that lacks even basic infrastructure, and army generals were asked to vacate their seats to make space for foreign dignitaries.

South Sudan’s independence came exactly six months after southerners voted almost unanimously to split with their former civil war enemies in the north.

For decades, until a peace agreement was signed in 2005, southern rebels fought successive wars with the north, leaving the region in ruins, millions of people dead and a legacy of mutual mistrust.

Bashir was guest of honour, even though he is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of crimes against humanity and genocide in Darfur.

“We are here to welcome our brothers in the south in independence, and give a message to Bashir, that this is what happens when you oppress a people,” said Mohammed Jamous from Dafur.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon, another prominent guest at the ceremony, praised the “political courage” of the Sudanese government in accepting southern independence.

“I know secession is painful, emotionally and financially,” Ban said after meeting Foreign Minister Ali Karti in Khartoum before flying to Juba for the celebrations.

“While the people of north and south Sudan will soon live in different countries, their future will be closely linked.”

President Barack Obama granted US recognition of South Sudan as an independent state.

“After so much struggle by the people of South Sudan, the United States of America welcomes the birth of a new nation,” Mr Obama said in a statement issued by the White House.

ABC

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Comments

35 responses to “South Sudan formally declares independence”

  1. 5thDrawer Avatar
    5thDrawer

    The failure of ‘Sectarianism’ …

  2. 5thDrawer Avatar
    5thDrawer

    The failure of ‘Sectarianism’ …

  3.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    The failure of ‘Sectarianism’ …

  4. Fauzia45 Avatar
    Fauzia45

    I hope that the world soon welcomes the birth of a Palestinian State! I hope that justice is brought to all peoples of the Middle East !This is the only way peace will reign!Enough of suffering and war!Peace and justice for all!!

    1. antar2011 Avatar
      antar2011

      hear hear

  5. Fauzia45 Avatar
    Fauzia45

    I hope that the world soon welcomes the birth of a Palestinian State! I hope that justice is brought to all peoples of the Middle East !This is the only way peace will reign!Enough of suffering and war!Peace and justice for all!!

  6.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    I hope that the world soon welcomes the birth of a Palestinian State! I hope that justice is brought to all peoples of the Middle East !This is the only way peace will reign!Enough of suffering and war!Peace and justice for all!!

    1.  Avatar
      Anonymous

      hear hear

    2.  Avatar
      Anonymous

      hear hear

  7. Obama would grant independence to South Sudan, but not Palestine.

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar
      5thDrawer

      Not quite the same thing … Sudan was already there.

    2. 7akibalash Avatar
      7akibalash

      what a stupid statement basil, how exactly did obama “grant independence to south sudan”, for your information the south sudanese took it upon themselves to declare their own independence, obama had no say in it.
      think about this for a second, all these years that the arabs have been calling for the destruction of Israel and the establishment of palestine in its place (cause no arab country wants the so called “palestinians”, formerly known as egyptians and jordanians) has been nothing but a huge obstacle for the palestinians, to declare what land they had control over as a sovereign state. no one has been a bigger enemy to the palestinians than the arabs themselves. as a matter of fact no one killed more palestinians than the arabs. jordan alone, in 1 month, killed more palestinians then Israel did in 60 yrs(3 major wars, and countless intifadas, and still the Israelis couldnt beat the record set by the jordanians).
      reckognize israel’s right to exist and stop waging wars against the Israelis, and palestine will be established in no time but arabs’ pride has been hurt and it’s beyond this now, cause the arabs have to save face by destroying Israel(this is a crazy dream that can never happen). 
      anyway I can tell from your statement that you are no more than another brainwashed arab, programmed to cry foul at every turn.
      here’s a bit of info for you, long before there was an “arafat” arabs called the Jews of the Holy Land “philisteeniyyi” and Jews called the arabs either jordanian or egyptian. arabs called the Jews “philisteeniyyi” as an insult in reference to what rome did by kicking the Jews out of jerusalem and renaming it “philistin” for the greek philisteens who came as invaders and settled the gaza strip area at the time.
      answer me this please,why does a group of arabs want to call themselves “philisteeniyyi” today(it’s like a white man calling black people the N word then one day deciding that he(the white man) wants people to start calling him the N word), do they not know their own history? arabs in more then the first half of the 20th century were calling Jews “philisteeniyyi” not till 63 did the name “palestine” come about thought up by arafat to gain legitimacy for a people with no name…. or maybe they just didnt want to be jordanians and egyptians anymore lool…

    3. master09 Avatar
      master09

      Apples and Oranges not even close

  8. Obama would grant independence to South Sudan, but not Palestine.

    1.  Avatar
      Anonymous

      Not quite the same thing … Sudan was already there.

    2.  Avatar
      Anonymous

      what a stupid statement basil, how exactly did obama “grant independence to south sudan”, for your information the south sudanese took it upon themselves to declare their own independence, obama had no say in it.
      think about this for a second, all these years that the arabs have been calling for the destruction of Israel and the establishment of palestine in its place (cause no arab country wants the so called “palestinians”, formerly known as egyptians and jordanians) has been nothing but a huge obstacle for the palestinians, to declare what land they had control over as a sovereign state. no one has been a bigger enemy to the palestinians than the arabs themselves. as a matter of fact no one killed more palestinians than the arabs. jordan alone, in 1 month, killed more palestinians then Israel did in 60 yrs(3 major wars, and countless intifadas, and still the Israelis couldnt beat the record set by the jordanians).
      reckognize israel’s right to exist and stop waging wars against the Israelis, and palestine will be established in no time but arabs’ pride has been hurt and it’s beyond this now, cause the arabs have to save face by destroying Israel(this is a crazy dream that can never happen). 
      anyway I can tell from your statement that you are no more than another brainwashed arab, programmed to cry foul at every turn.
      here’s a bit of info for you, long before there was an “arafat” arabs called the Jews of the Holy Land “philisteeniyyi” and Jews called the arabs either jordanian or egyptian. arabs called the Jews “philisteeniyyi” as an insult in reference to what rome did by kicking the Jews out of jerusalem and renaming it “philistin” for the greek philisteens who came as invaders and settled the gaza strip area at the time.
      answer me this please,why does a group of arabs want to call themselves “philisteeniyyi” today(it’s like a white man calling black people the N word then one day deciding that he(the white man) wants people to start calling him the N word), do they not know their own history? arabs in more then the first half of the 20th century were calling Jews “philisteeniyyi” not till 63 did the name “palestine” come about thought up by arafat to gain legitimacy for a people with no name…. or maybe they just didnt want to be jordanians and egyptians anymore lool…

    3.  Avatar
      Anonymous

      Apples and Oranges not even close

  9. master09 Avatar
    master09

    I was wondering if someone is able to help on this ? Where in the Quran does it say that Palestine must be liberated by the Muslims.
    Some help would be great thanks.

    I have read also that in the Quran it says something about the jews will be in Palestine till end of time, some help on this one as well thanks guys.
    Peace 

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar
      5thDrawer

      Seem to recall it … hold on … searching for Quran.
          (Damn, where is that little book? I thought it was under this huge pile of Hadiths … hope it’s not under the one in the room-full of Fatwahs …)
      Errr … I’ll get back to you … 

    2. 7akibalash Avatar
      7akibalash

      master, quran doesnt mention the word palestine, not even once.
      Israel is mentioned 49 times in the quran

      “And [remember] when Moses said to his people: ‘O my people, call in remembrance the favour of God unto you, when he produced prophets among you, made you kings, and gave to you what He had not given to any other among the peoples. O my people, enter the Holy Land which God has assigned unto you, and turn not back ignominiously, for then will ye be overthrown, to your own ruin.’” [Qur’an 5:20-21]

      “And We said thereafter to the Children of Israel, “Dwell securely in the land (of promise)”: but when the second of the warnings came to pass, We gathered you together in a mingled crowd.” [qur’an 17:104]

      I hope this was of some help to you.

      1. 5thDrawer Avatar
        5thDrawer

        Thank you … (now I can stop looking .. whew!)

  10. master09 Avatar
    master09

    I was wondering if someone is able to help on this ? Where in the Quran does it say that Palestine must be liberated by the Muslims.
    Some help would be great thanks.

    I have read also that in the Quran it says something about the jews will be in Palestine till end of time, some help on this one as well thanks guys.
    Peace 

  11.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    I was wondering if someone is able to help on this ? Where in the Quran does it say that Palestine must be liberated by the Muslims.
    Some help would be great thanks.

    I have read also that in the Quran it says something about the jews will be in Palestine till end of time, some help on this one as well thanks guys.
    Peace 

    1.  Avatar
      Anonymous

      Seem to recall it … hold on … searching for Quran.
          (Damn, where is that little book? I thought it was under this huge pile of Hadiths … hope it’s not under the one in the room-full of Fatwahs …)
      Errr … I’ll get back to you … 

    2.  Avatar
      Anonymous

      Seem to recall it … hold on … searching for Quran.
          (Damn, where is that little book? I thought it was under this huge pile of Hadiths … hope it’s not under the one in the room-full of Fatwahs …)
      Errr … I’ll get back to you … 

    3.  Avatar
      Anonymous

      master, quran doesnt mention the word palestine, not even once.
      Israel is mentioned 49 times in the quran

      “And [remember] when Moses said to his people: ‘O my people, call in remembrance the favour of God unto you, when he produced prophets among you, made you kings, and gave to you what He had not given to any other among the peoples. O my people, enter the Holy Land which God has assigned unto you, and turn not back ignominiously, for then will ye be overthrown, to your own ruin.’” [Qur’an 5:20-21]

      “And We said thereafter to the Children of Israel, “Dwell securely in the land (of promise)”: but when the second of the warnings came to pass, We gathered you together in a mingled crowd.” [qur’an 17:104]

      I hope this was of some help to you.

      1.  Avatar
        Anonymous

        Thank you … (now I can stop looking .. whew!)

  12.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    I was wondering if someone is able to help on this ? Where in the Quran does it say that Palestine must be liberated by the Muslims.
    Some help would be great thanks.

    I have read also that in the Quran it says something about the jews will be in Palestine till end of time, some help on this one as well thanks guys.
    Peace 

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