Updated: Sat Jul. 09 2011 19:12:00
ctvedmonton.ca
After two civil wars over a half century killed millions, former and current citizens of South Sudan are celebrating the creation of the world's newest country.
"We will not get people back but we will get our freedom." President of the Sudanese Canadian Association in Edmonton Dieu Atem said Saturday, on the first independence day for the new South Sudan.
Local Sudanese people waved the flag of South Sudan at a gathering celebrating the new nation Saturday.
Residents voted in January to form their own country following fighting that lasted fifty years between the black African tribes of the south and the Arab north, leaving millions dead.
The new government has some major issues to deal with, as five areas along the new international border are currently illegally occupied by troops from either the north or south.
South Sudan also controls about 75 per cent of what used to be Sudan's daily oil production. However, South Sudan has no oil refineries, and oil from South Sudan has to travel through Sudan's pipelines.
The country is also one of the poorest in the world, and has about 8 million citizens to take care of.
Nevertheless, Dieu Atem is looking forward to seeing how the new country will fare in its first months as an independent nation.
"We are going to be happy for sure in South Sudan, there will be peace."
South Sudan is expected to become the 193rd country recognized by the U.N. next week.
With files from Kevin Armstrong
Article Source KBG Test Blog (http://rc.kbg.me)
