S. Sudan fails to celebrate Uhuru, violence blamed

JUBA. - South Sudanese on Sunday expressed regrets as the country failed for the second year to mark its sixth independence anniversary on July 9, amid the more than three years of violence.

President Salva Kiir’s government said it was not able to celebrate this year’s independence fete in the capital Juba due to economic hardship after conflict caused oil production, which is the major source of revenue, to dwindle.

Dau Akoi Jurkuch, a local Commissioner of Twic Central in northern Jonglei state, told Xinhua that despite ongoing challenges everyone should celebrate winning independence from Sudan in 2011.

“We should avoid individualism. We are celebrating within our hearts and homes even if there are no official celebrations,” he revealed.

He added that the on-going violence caused by the bitter political fallout between President Kiir and his former First Vice President in the transitional unity government should not divide a wedge among South Sudanese and instead called for unity and dialogue.

“The amnesty and the national dialogue that have been declared by the president are the only way to bring peace,” Jurkuch added.

The UN warns that although South Sudan was declassified as no longer in famine, over 7 million people remain on brink of hunger and starvation if constant food aid supplies are not provided. - Xinhua.