Amid Low International Participation, S. Sudan Commemorates First Independence Anniversary

Juba – The Republic of South Sudan yesterday celebrated its first Anniversary of Independence which was attended by several high officials from African States especially President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni, Deputy Prime Minister of Ethiopia Hailemerian Desalegn, Chairperson of AU Commission Jean Ping, AU Chairperson Yayi Boni, Minister of State for Public Service of Kenya Dalmas Ayango and Special Representing of the UN Secretary General Hilda Johnson and other dignitaries.

Sudan participated with a high level delegation headed by State Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Salah Wanasi accompanied by senior staff from the ministry.

The Sudanese delegation was warmly welcomed in Juba and was the first to address the ceremony from the visiting delegations.
Wanasi conveyed the congratulations of President Al Bashir to his brother Salva Kiir wishing South Sudan Republic and its people every success.
Addressing the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Hailemerian Desalegn, called for adopting the soft borders proposal to ease the tensions between the two countries.
The speech of President Kiir was balanced as he said that the Sudanese delegation’s arrival to participate in the Anniversary represents a goodwill from Sudan as a response to "We will remain committed to resolve conflicts through dialogue because we are committed to peace" said Kiir in his address, adding that they have no problems with the people of Sudan.
Kiir enumerated the achievements of his government in the first year of independence affirming that they are reasonable compared to the challenges facing the nation.
For his part, ROSS Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar affirmed to the Sudanese State Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that their team is ready and will leave to Addis Ababa Tuesday and that President Kiir will depart on Wednesday, expressing his wishes that the upcoming round pays off.