South Sudan the youngest nation in the world marks its 9th anniversary today, Thursday July 9th.
But in December 2013 nearly two years after independence the country went back into civil war.
The war has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions of people forcing many into object poverty.
Even after the signing of the Revitalized Agreement in September 2018, the young nation still faces several challenges like the coronavirus pandemic, food insecurity and ethnic violence.
Susan Lado has been operating a catering business in Juba town for over ten years.
Susan says she was happy when South Sudan got independence in 2011, hoping that life will get better.
She says she is disappointed to see that nine years of self-rule have not brought much change to the people of South Sudan.
Susan says there is a widespread insecurity and human rights abuse in the country.
‘In this nine year there is nothing good I saw, women are suffering citizens are suffering we do not sleep at night thieves are stealing and raping children even men are raped so in the previous years there was nothing good, gunshots at night. These guns are for the enemy or its used against the people, I just pray for God to see South Sudan’, the lady expresses
Susan calls on the country’s leaders to work hard and ensure that next year’s independence anniversary is celebrated in a peaceful environment.
‘Next year, we want to hear that there are no unknown gunmen in South Sudan next year’
Another Juba resident who declined to be named says there is little to celebrate because the government has failed to provide employment and development opportunities for the people of South Sudan in the past eight years.
‘There are boda- boda raiders who have masters and PHD but there is no good job. How they will enjoy this independence. It’s impossible, so we expect the new government to bring a good change not only through employment but economic growth should be there in the country’.
Civil rights activist, Edmund Yakani agrees that there is nothing much to celebrate because the people of South Sudan continue to suffer in their own country.
Yakani says South Sudan’s problems emanated from widespread corruption, violence and under-development.
‘For the last eight years the government first is unable to improve the infrastructure as a failure, is unable secure a holistic stability in the country Rumbek violence among pastoralist started since the independence until today, Politicians are carrying guns as a way of having power. In April 2010 when we were going for elections violence started in unity state led by the late Peter Gadet until now people are still fighting and still carrying arms against each other’, the activist stresses.
Yakani has the following advice for the people and leaders of South Sudan.
‘What can make South Sudan what we want: Number one-change of political attitude among our political elites. Be less corrupt. Be committed to political will and thirdly, respect rule of law and human rights. The leaders should know that they have global and regional responsibility not to misbehave as if you are an island of your own. And for the citizens, never give loyalty to any politician that have an identify of being corrupt and fuelling violence as political tool’, Activist Yakani advises
Meanwhile Government Spokesperson Michael Makuei disagrees that corruption is the major problem facing South Sudan.
He says the main challenge hindering the government from providing services to its people is insecurity.
‘There are individual opinions and individual opinions cannot be relegated to the people of South Sudan. Our main problem is the insecurity, not any other’
He says implementation of the Revitalized peace agreement will help end the problems facing South Sudan.
‘We were interrupted before we could do anything. The government has been all this time trying its best to bring peace to South Sudan. But every time peace is violated, then people go back to the negotiating table, but I think we have now succeeded to bring peace’
South Sudan’s independence in 2011 was met with fanfare and celebration, but the past eight years have not been easy for the citizens of the young country.
This therefore demands collective efforts by all South Sudanese in order return the country into the right path.