by PROTUS ONYANGO
JUBA, Jul 10, 2011 (IPS) – Macklina Kenyi, 33, ran away from South Sudan to avoid being raped and abducted by the rebels during the war. She has since been studying in Kenya but on Jul. 9 she returned to Juba to witness the birth of her country.
In December once she completes her Masters studies, she will return home to help rebuild her country.
South Sudan’s independence was, she said, a dream come true.
“I ran away from my country to Kenya to go to school and I am happy that we are now free and I urge the new government to respect women and develop a justice system that is fair to all,” Kenyi said.
“I am now doing my Masters in Political Science, Women and Gender Studies and when I finish in December, I will come back home to help rebuild my country. I urge those of us in the diaspora to do the same. This country needs us,” she said.
A power outage that lasted 30 minutes briefly interrupted the South Sudan independence celebrations held at the Dr. John Garang stadium. It was possibly a reminder to the new regime about the urgent work that lies ahead in providing basic services to its hopeful citizens.
It was ironic that power went off when it was Sudan’s President Omar Al-Bashir’s turn to address the gathering. Just as Al-Bashir was being introduced to the crowd, the power went off. But in the days running up to independence power cuts in Juba have been frequent and numerous.
But the darkness did not dampen the mood of South Sudanese who had turned up in their thousands to witness this historic moment. They sang patriotic songs until the power was restored and Al-Bashir addressed them.
While he did so, a man from the Darfur region waved a placard that read: “Al-Bashir Wanted Alive or Dead” but he was confronted by security and his poster was quickly confiscated.
Al-Bashir had sent a message to the South Sudan government saying he recognised the new country’s independence.
”I recognise that South Sudan is a free country now and I salute its President, Salva Kiir and its people. Lets us continue to work together and forge a common future because we have a lot in common,” he said on Jul. 9.
The celebrations were marked by serious logistical and protocol setbacks, which included taking three days to accredit media. The celebrations only began three hours behind schedule, but from that point on went on smoothly.
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