Tens of thousands gathered at Rumbek’s Freedom Square on Saturday to celebrate the birth of the new nation, the largest crowd ever witnessed in the history of Lakes State capital.
The Saturday gathering was preceded by an ecstatic night of celebration that kicked off at midnight, greeting the birth of the Republic of South Sudan.Gunshots, ululations, loud joyous screams, sounds of drums and empty jerry cans rent the air all over Rumbek.
At the main Episcopal Church of Sudan (ECS) in Rumbek, the deafening sound of a gun blast in close proximity shocked the congregation and its members including the bishop fell to the ground in the ensuing commotion that lasted several minutes.
The Catholic Bishop of Rumbek had earlier presided over a solemn candlelit procession with some 200 faithful in attendance.
The procession started at the Diocesan Youth Centre and concluded at a bonfire prepared in front of the building behind the Cathedral where late Fr. Arkangelo Ali was massacred in 1965.
The participants were in a great mood of celebration.
People started thronging into Rumbek’s Freedom Square at daybreak.
By 7AM, there was a buzz of excitement all over the town.
Uniformed pupils and students, youth groups, brightly dressed women from various associations, different organized groups lined up in the two main streets of Rumbek, waving small flags, chanting songs of victory and dancing while others sang the national anthem that they now knew by heart.
The different groups carried placards showing their identity, while some of the posters bore independence messages.
The official ceremony that was scheduled to start at 10 AM began two hours late when the guest of honour, Lakes State Governor Chol Tong Mayay, arrived at the VIP Stage amid tight security.
The arrival of the governor was followed by the marching of the organized forces and the scouts and girl guides plus other groups like the Darfuris, Rumbek Youth Union, the returnees, Rumbek Nursing School students, the East African Community.
People with disabilities, including the Speaker of Lakes State Legislative Assembly, also paraded through the square amid applauses from the cheerful crowd.
It was 12.45 PM when official opening prayers were said by the Catholic Bishop Caesar Mazzolari of Rumbek and the Muslim leader Sheikh Abdalla Ahmed Makur.
Speaker John Marik Makur read out the resolution of the State Assembly affirming the proclamation of the independence of the Republic of South Sudan.
The flag of Sudan was lowered and that of South Sudan hoisted by two amputee war veterans, followed by the lighting of the Independence candle by the Governor.
As if the hoisting of the flag was what the people were waiting for, a good number of people started leaving the square singing and dancing towards the town while speeches went on.
Among those who had a chance to speak included Rumbek Central County Commissioner, Youth League representative, acting SPLM Chairperson, US Embassy representative, UNMISSS representative, the State Speaker and the governor.
In his speech, Governor Tong called to mind the fallen heroes and heroines, inviting the crowd to observe a minute of silence in their honour.
He described the day as a great day that sees South Sudan join the community of sovereign nations.
The Commissioner of Rumbek Central County, Matur Majok, read out a list of people from Rumbek who sacrificed their life during the struggle for independence from 1983.