Despite the Unity Government’s “snail-like” implementation of the peace deal, South Sudan to celebrate Independence Day, the first time in 6 years

The government has declared that preparations are ongoing to commemorate the country’s tenth anniversary of independence on Friday, July 9, 2021, at both the national and state levels.

Because of hard conditions, the government of South Sudan has been unable to host yearly independence celebrations since the country’s second anniversary on July 9, 2013.

Dr. Barnaba Marial, the Presidential Affairs Minister, claims President Salva Kiir Mayardit has tasked him with spearheading the arrangements for the 10th independence anniversary celebrations, which will take place at both the national and state levels because there has been a noticeable improvement in the economy and the realization of tranquility in South Sudan.

This year’s commemoration will be marked by the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity’s “tortoise-like” implementation of a peace agreement anticipated to pave the way for free and fair elections in 2023. The construction of state and national legislatures, graduation of unified forces, the transitional justice system, and disarmament are among the stipulations of the accord that remain unaccomplished.

CEPO’s Executive Director, Edmund Yakani describes South Sudan’s independence decade as one dominated by violent armed conflict, denying South Sudanese a great opportunity of development and prosperity due to what he calls “wrong political attitudes” from elites and establishments.

Kiir and Machar signed a revitalized version of a 2015 peace agreement in 2018 and Machar who once served for few months in 2016 as First Vice President has been reinstated to the position.