Wish South Sudan Happy Independence

On the dawn of the independence of Sudan from colonial rule in 1956, the seed that had sprouted a political consciousness among the people of Sudan leading to that independence also contained within it the tumultuous genesis of the Sudan civil war.

Sudan had suffered from various forms of sectarianism during the British rule and it carried on when a new government assumed power after independence. The Arabic Islamic north and the African animist South became the descriptive lingo of the social, economic, cultural and political jigsaw between the south and the north.

Today, however, that jigsaw falls into a perfect piece of history when the south declares independence from the north. It has been decades, mostly of a bloody interaction between the two sides, but also among southerners, who are fiercely divided along ethnic lines. With a population of about 15 million people, the new country has a huge mountain to climb in building everything in their country from scratch - literally.
Decades of war should provide the mirror of what they should never slide into again yet they can use the same energy and gust that has brought them to this day's declaration to foster unity and peace - key values in rebuilding their country.

East Africa welcomes a secure South Sudan. Without security, it will be difficult for the region to exploit the potential in the country neither will South Sudan benefit from the possible foreign investments overflowing from its neighbours, who have enjoyed relative peace over the decades.
East Africa also welcomes economic growth and development - with so much vast land and natural resources like oil and gas - South Sudan makes a good case for a possible membership into the East African economic bloc. But that can only be possible when the country harnesses its people and resources and also ensures peace and stability.
Uganda has a long history with the liberation struggle for the south and is literally connected to the country at its northern border. Ours is to encourage a brotherly neighbourhood for our mutual development and civilisation. We shall continue to offer a helping hand where you need us.