SOUTH SUDAN – THE NEW BORN BABY

South Sudan, the new born nation is in a state of euphoria now. It would take a fairly long period for the dust of euphoria to settle down across South Sudan, on July 9, Saturday ie. yesterday. After several decades of intense struggle for a separate State of South Sudan suffering a loss of 15 lakh lives and several lakhs of displacements, the new generation of Southern Sudan finally achieved much sought after freedom. Today’s generation owe it most to the martyrs whose valiant struggles for a separate State without whose persistent fights South Sudan wouldn’t have come to existence.
July 9, 2011 is written in golden letters for everybody to rejoice as South Sudan, the new born baby in the comity of nations as the 193rd one recognized by United Nations. South Sudan is the 54th African State recognized by the august body it is worth while to note here.
After a prolonged struggle in 2005, a decision to hold a referendum was adopted and it was held in the mouth of January in which 98.8 percent of people of Southern Sudan opted for secession from the North. It was a defining moment in the history of Sudan. South Sudan, it is to be remembered here is mostly inhabited by Christians and Animists as against North Sudan which is mostly inhabited by Muslims.
It was celebration time in South Sudan from the night of July 8 across South Sudan. People thronged to the streets in large numbers danced their way through the streets and motor cyclists speeded along with fists thrown to the air displaying solidarity with the dancing masses.
The ceremony was attended by VIPs like Ban Ki Moon, UN Secretary General, Salwa Kiir leader and President elect of South Sudan, Omar-Al-Bashir of North Sudan and India was represented by Vice-President Hamid Ansari among a host of dignitaries at Juba, the Capital city of South Sudan.
Yes, it is celebration time across South Sudan which is natural but it is to be remembered that the euphoria is bound to settle down one day and problems are bound to arise with the possibility of border tensions since uptill now a clear demarcation is not earmarked between North and South, more than that huge petroleum reserves are located in South Sudan and a mad rush for petroleum products are bound to arise first from North Sudan and other nations.
The new-born baby, ie. South Sudan will have to undergo many a crisis that was why I had already pointed out the period the euphoric days and then the stark reality.
US and Britain have already recognized the new State to be followed by other countries in due course. At a critical moment like this what South Sudan badly needs is the generous assistance of other countries since at present it is in fact an under-develop nation compared to North Sudan. And to avoid further clashes between North Sudan and South Sudan in future it is reported that a company of UN forces are going to be stationed across the volatile areas.
Salwa Kiir, the new head of State have a long way to go facing the challenges ahead, to be specific for the constant progress of South Sudan, the new-born baby.