Freedom partying goes on all night in South Sudan

By Collins Kweyu in Juba

The people of South Sudan continued with the big party yesterday, a day after ushering in their country’s independence.

Fireworks lit the sky of the sun-baked city of Juba as tens of thousands of jubilant citizens hugged, honked car horns and waved giant green, white, red, black and blue South Sudan flags bearing a yellow star.

Apart from ecstatic scenes on the streets, partying went on overnight in social places while elderly women and children converged in churches and other places of worship for thanksgiving prayers.

It was a free-for-all celebration with revellers jumping onto passing vehicles chanting "South Sudan Hoyee!" as they toasted to their independence.

Traders, mostly Eritreans and Kenyans, made roaring business selling food and beer at hotels and roadside kiosks.

"Business is good but the number of visitors is overwhelming our capacity," said Tesfaye Teklegiorgis, who runs the Nile Hotel in Juba.

Kenyans travelled in their hundreds from Nairobi to celebrate with their South Sudan counterparts.

President Kibaki was among the keynote speakers during the Independence Day celebrations. The South Sudanese army dressed in red ceremonial jackets and black trousers mounted a guard of honour for visiting Heads of State.

President Kibaki flew to Juba early on Saturday morning accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Uhuru Kenyatta.

Other guests from Kenya included retired President Daniel arap Moi, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his wife Ida, Cabinet ministers Samuel Poghisio (Information) and Ali Chirau Mwakere (Trade).

VIP badges

Also sitting conspicuously with VIP badges on their lapels were Eldoret North MP William Ruto, Eugene Wamalwa (Saboti) and Rift Valley Railways Executive chairman Brown Ondego.

Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o, Manyala Keya, Nairobi Mayor George Aladwa, Nairobi Town Clerk Philip Kisia and several civic leaders from the City Council of Nairobi were also present.

Thousands cheered as formations from the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), carrying AK-47 rifles mounted with bayonets and clad in ceremonial uniforms and jungle fatigues walked past. War veterans who lost their limbs in the long war against government soldiers also received wild adulation as they strode past with the aid of various mobility devices.

Over 400 journalists from foreign and local media houses were among thousands who converged in Juba to witness the historic occasion.

Later in the evening, attention turned to the John Garang Memorial grounds from where giant firecrackers and colourful fireworks were fired into the dark sky of Juba.

The colourful displays were accompanied by joyous screams and ululating by women.