Tens of thousands of South Sudanese danced and cheered as their new country formally declared its independence yesterday, a hard-won separation from the north.
South Sudan became the 193rd country recognised by the United Nations and the 54th UN member state in Africa through the raising of the new country’s flag at an independence ceremony in the capital, Juba.
The President of South Sudan Salva Kiir stood next to his old civil war foe the President of Sudan Omar Hassan al-Bashir, who now leads just the north, at a ceremony to mark the birth of the new nation.
South Sudan’s parliamentary speaker James Wani Igga read out the formal declaration of independence.
“We, the democratically elected representatives of the people … hereby declare Southern Sudan to be an independent and sovereign state,” said Igga before Sudan’s flag was lowered, the South Sudan flag was raised and the new anthem sung. Salva Kiir took the oath of office.
The independence declaration was read out in front of dozens of heads of stated foreign dignitaries.
The presence of Bashir, who campaigned to keep Africa’s largest nation united, was an important signal of the north’s goodwill.
North Sudan’s Khartoum government was the first to recognise the new state on Friday, hours before the split took place, a move that smoothed the way to the division.
US, Britain and France formally recognised the newly formed state and pledged supports necessary for the impoverished nation.
Kenya and Egypt were among the first African nations to recognise South Sudan.
The under-developed oil-producer won its independence in a January referendum — the climax of a 2005 peace deal that ended decades of fighting with the north which killed millions.
-With The Daily Star input
