beautiful osuth sudan

Magazine of Beautiful South Sudan

J u l y 9 t h I n d e p e n d e n c e

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he idea of creating the Magazine of Beautiful South Sudan was envisioned by Dr. Omot Agwa, Mrs. Rachel Obal, and Mrs. Chaam Philipe Obang on July 9, 2011. The magazine is created on the assumption of introducing the Republic of South Sudan on various features, such as cultures and tradition, various current social and economic events, health, and sports activities of people of South Sudan to both the South Sudanese in the Diaspora and the international community on quarterly basis. It is also intended to promote the local businesses of South Sudanese and people who want to invest in the Republic of South Sudan. In this case, it can attack many South Sudanese in the Diaspora and foreigners to go and invest or take part in the on-going developmental activities in the newly formed and untapped South Sudan. By doing this, we are putting the newly formed the Republic of South Sudan on the map of the world. As the first magazine of its kind to be introduced in the short history of the Republic of South Sudan, it is with a great pleasure that we are announcing the foundation of this historic magazine that honors all ethnic groups and each citizen of South Sudan and South Sudanese friends.

The Beautiful South Sudan Magazine is intended to be one of the vehicles that South Sudanese communities can use to promote theirvalues and country. The Republic of South Sudan is gifted with a lot of natural resources that are still unutilized. Although the country is endowed with lot of resources such as petroleum, gold, silver, iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, hydro power, timber, fertile land, cattle, wild-life, and etc, it still requires knowledge, expertise, and innovation of all its citizens in order to gain a respectful status among all the other nations. In this regard, the Beautiful South Sudan Magazine can be utilized as a platform where all citizens of South Sudan and their friends can express themselves with dignity, and place their inputs in the promotion of the beautifulness of their beloved country. No matter where they are, the people of South Sudan can still input their fruitful ideas by utilizing the power of technology and participate in the promotion of the success of the magazine.

Now the moment has come for the citizens of South Sudan to shine and prove to the world that they did not get their independence by chance. To do this, they have to get to the root cause of their conflicts and come up with permanent resolutions through peaceful and democratic negotiations in order to make the transition smooth and to achieve the dreams of their fellow citizens who lost their lives for the freedom and independence of South Sudan.

TEditorial

Magazine of Beautiful South Sudan

The Republic of South Sudan has become a country after years of war and now, it is the time for its people to defy the odds and shape up the vision for the future of the nation, and establish the goals to develop the country and enjoythe freedom that their citizens deserve. Now, the door of participation is open for those who want to see the country prospered and become one of well known destinations in African. “There is no country in the world developed by foreigners. It is the citizens of each country that can develop their own country”, Chinery-Hesse (Ghanian Software developer). Therefore, no one can promote the interest of South Sudan and build it better than the South Sudanese themselves. Although the Magazine of Beautiful South Sudan has the capability to promote the need and the success of South Sudan, it still needs a strong collaboration with South Sudanese experts, investors, businessmen, and ordinary fellow citizens in order to succeed in promoting the success of South Sudan and its citizens.

Sincerely, Magazine of Beautiful South Sudan Staff

Dr Omot Agwa Okoye

Table Of ContentsPages 1-4History of New country

Culture Of South Sudan

Celebration Of Freedom

Natural Resources Of South Sudan

Pages 5-11

Page 15-25

Page 26-34

Beautiful South Sudan

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Magazine Of

From Guerilla Fighter toIndependence Politician: The Story of South Sudan's Salva Kiir Mayardit

By Andrew McGregor

Colonel John Garang de Mabior (who emerged as the SPLA/M's Chairman), Lieutenant Colonel Karabino Kuanyin Bol, Major Arok Thon Arok and Lieutenant Colonel William Nyuon Bany. Of these figures, only Salva Kiir survives today.

Kiir began to play an important political and diplomatic role in 1993 when he led the SPLM delegation to the Organization of African Unity-sponsored Sudan peace talks in Abuja, Nigeria. Kiir filled the role as John Garang's deputy following the death of William Nyoun Bany in 1996. He again led the SPLM delegation to the initial Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD)-sponsored Sudan peace talks in Kenya's Eastern Province that paved the way for the ground-breaking July 2002 Machakos Protocol. The Machakos Protocol was the first in a series of eight protocols that ultimately led to the Naivasha Agreement, formally known as the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), signed in Nairobi on January 9, 2005. The signing of the CPA in Nairobi set the stage for the 2011 referendum vote and for the equal distribution of oil revenues between North and South.

Having joined the renewed Southern insurgency in 1983, Salva Kiir's skills and influence were recognized when he was made a member of the SPLA/M High Command Council, alongside notable southern soldiers such as

Magazine of Beautiful South Sudan 1

Salva Kiir Mayardit

Continue on page 36...

The Story of South Sudan's

W ith the January 9, 2011, referendum on South Sudanese independence only weeks away, a long-time rebel commander turned politician stands to become the first president of a new African nation with both abundant oil reserves and a highly uncertain future. Salva Kiir Mayardit, a Roman Catholic Rek Dinka from Warrap State in Bahr al-Ghazal Province, fought in both of Sudan's civil wars, finishing the second as chief military commander of the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M).

BackgroundIn 1967, a 17-year-old Salva Kiir joined the Anyanya Rebellion (1955-1972), an armed effort to establish a separate state in South Sudan. Following the 1972 Addis Ababa Agreement that brought an end to Sudan's first civil war, Kiir was among those Anyanya guerillas who were integrated into the Sudanese Armed Forces, or the Wildlife Protection Service (many other irreconcilable fighters went south to Idi Amin's Uganda). He graduated from the Sudan Military College in Omdurman and went on to serve as a major in Sudanese military intelligence.

MEMBERSHIP AS 193RD UN MEMBER STATE

SOUTH SUDAN'S FLAG RAISED SYMBOLIZING

UNITED NATIONS,July 14 (Xinhua) –Surrounded by masses of UNpersonnel and media in the blazingsun, South Sudan'sflag was raised hereon Thursday marking theadmission of world'snewest country asthe 193rd member of the United Nations.The flag is rising "over our shared capital, the capital of the international community, here atthe UN," UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said addressing the audience at the flag-raising ceremony. South Sudan's Vice President Riek Machar hailed the dayas "historic" and "emotional." "We're humbled that we're now part of the worldcommunity," Machar said. The flag with atriangle at the hoist, a gold star in thetriangle, and colors -- black representingthe South Sudanese people, white standing for peace, red embodying the blood shed for freedom, green symbolizing the land and blueto present the waters of the Nile. The gold"star of Bethlehem" in the triangle represents the hope of the South Sudanese people.

From now on, the South Sudanese

flag "will fly as high and as proud as the flags here in

New York and around the world,"

President of the UN General

Assembly Joseph Deiss said while

addressing the crowds. Mauritius decided to make

space to the flag of the UN's

youngest member, which Deiss

described as "a symbolic gesture

expressing thesolidarity and the friendship that must prevail in our nations."Deiss underlined that the UN is eager to continue its close and long-termpartnership with Sudan and South Sudan,

and supports the two countries in introducing"peaceful solutions to the outstanding issues

for the peace process." The General Assembly president also touched on how

South Sudan will enjoy the same rights and responsibilities as any other member state.

Ezekiel Lol Gatkouth, who is head of government of Southern Sudan mission to

the United States, danced in front of the crowds after the flag was raised. Other people

attending the ceremony include U.S. Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice and head of UN

peacekeeping Alain Le Roy. The UN General Assembly on Thursday unanimously approved a

resolution admitting the newly independent Republic of South Sudan as the 193rd member

of the UN. The African country declared independence last Saturday in its capital Juba.

Its independence is the result of the January 2011 referendum held under the terms of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended the decades-long civil war between the

North and the South.

The national flag (C) of South Sudan is hoisted after South Sudan is admitted to membership in the United Nations at the UN headquarters compound in New York, the United

States, July 14, 2011. The UN General Assembly on Thursday unanimously approved a resolution admitting the newly

independent Republic of South Sudan as the 193rd member of the United Nations. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)


UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (R) speaks during a

flag-raising ceremony after South Sudan is admitted to

membership in the United Nations at the UN headquarters

compound in New York, the United States, July 14, 2011.

(Xinhua/Shen Hong)

UN General Assembly President Joseph Deiss(R) speaks during a flag-raising ceremony afterSouth Sudan is admitted to membership in the

United Nations at the UN headquarters compoundin New York, the United States, July 14, 2011.

(Xinhua/Shen Hong)

A South Sudan's representative dances during a flag-raising ceremony after South Sudan is

admitted to membership in the United Nations at the UN headquarters compound in New York,

the United States, July 14, 2011. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

South Sudan's Vice President Riek Machar ®speaks during a flag-raising ceremony after

South Sudan is admitted to membership in theUnited Nations at the UN headquarters

compound in New York, the United States, July14, 2011. The UN General Assembly on

Thursday unanimously approved a resolutionadmitting the newly independent Republic of

South Sudan as the 193rd member of the United Nations. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

Confirmation of the independence By UN General Assembly


No state existed in the territory now known as South Sudan before the European scramblefor Africa. The area only consisted of small, medium and large nationalities that coexisted in relative harmony. The indigenous populationsand their territories remain largely the same to date.

This tranquil existence was interrupted by European invaders seeking trade commodities and markets. South Sudan became the mainsource of trade commodities such as slaves, gold, ivory and timber. Thus, enormous human and other resources were plundered for generations.

History of Southern Sudan

Dr. John Garang

Modern South Sudan emerged during the Anglo-Egyptian Condominium (1898-1955), upon the break-up of the Ottoman Empire. Britain and Egypt colluded to occupy Sudan with separate administrative arrangements for the north and south. After the defeat of the Mahdist army in 1898 during the battle of Omdurman, North Sudanese accepted the rule of the new Anglo-Egyptian regime. However, South Sudanese rejected the regime and continued to fight for their independence.

This struggle for liberation continued for several years, even after Sudan obtained independence in 1956. Sadly, 37 of the past 56 years have been wasted on major civil conflicts; the first from 1955-1972 and the second from 1983 to 2005 when the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was signed. In fulfilment of a provision ofthe CPA, South Sudanese voted for total independence during the January 2011 referendum. South Sudan was declared a sovereign state on 9 July 2011.

John Garang BiographyJohn Garang de Mabior (June 23, 1945 - July 30, 2005) was the vice president of Sudan and former leader of the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Army. A member of the Dinka ethnic , he was born on June 23, 1945, in Wanglei, Jonglei State. Wanglei is a small town located in Twic East County in Bor district. Garang's parents Mabior Atem and Gak Malual were farmers with no formal education. Both Mabior and his wife Gak had seven children including Garang. In his family, Garang was the sixth of the seventh children. When speaking of him, he earned an admiration and respect of many people including William Deng. Deng admired Garang's intelligence and character. Mr. Deng was a veteran politician in the sixties.

Later in his youth, Garang went to school at Tonj Primary School and finished an elementary education in 1952. In 1956, he went on to complete the next level of education at Buseri Intermediate School in Wau. Four years later, Garang left without completing high school from Rumbek Senior Secondary. The reason cited for his early departure was to take on an international scholarship being offered in Tanzania. Those scholarships were awarded to students on merit and he was picked on that criteria. As his success advances, he was granted admission to attend Grinnell College in Iowa State, USA. In 1968, he graduated from Grinnell College with Bachelor of Arts in economics. Mr. Garang was educated in the United States and earned a doctorate (PhD) in economics at Iowa State University in 1981. Before graduating from Iowa State, he married his lovely wife Rebecca Nyandeng in 1976; they have six children. Continue on page 12...


Mundari tribesmen wrested in Juba on July 7, 2011, two days before South Sudan secedes.

Dinka Tribesmen Wrestling.

Wrestling

W r e s t l i n g

Wresting is one of the most popular, attractive ,and joyful of sports in South Sudan. Colleted are some images from wresting contests conducted during independence celebrations.

USAID, Western Union program aids African business

DENVER – A U.S. aid agencyand Western Union Co. are teaming up to offer a cash boost to sub-Saharan Africanswho live in the U.S. but havebusiness plans back home.

The African Diaspora Marketplace program offers matching grants of $50,000 to $100,000 for small- to medium-sized business proposals that can boost the economy in applicants' home countries. Applications are due July 21.

The U.S. Agency for International Development, Colorado-based Western Union and other partners have set aside $1.5 million for the program, but the pot could grow through donations.

The program comes as the recession threatens to undo years of work fighting povertyin sub-Saharan Africa,where remittances can outstripofficial development aid.

"The program is really great to encourage those of us who are outside the country to go back and invest," said EliabTarkghen, a software engineerin Alexandria, Va., whose family moved from Ethiopia in 1986 to escape communism.

Tarkghen, 37, declined to give details but said he is exploring applying for the program, possibly to open an assembly plant in Ethiopia.

"The way I look at it, the program is the final push if you have ideas, want to go back, but are afraid of the risk. But if someone will give you a grant and help you out, you are willing to take the risk," Tarkghen said.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents from one of 19 countries in sub-Saharan Africa where USAID has a presence and potential technical assistance programs. They also must have a partner in the country where they plan to go.

Eligible countries are Angola, Burundi, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone,South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

U.S. Census Bureau figures show there are about 1.2 million African-born adults in the U.S. By mid-June, 14 applications had been submitted to the diaspora program, and dozens more had begun the application process, USAID said. They include proposals for agribusiness, food production, fisheries, engineering, transportation and communications technologies in nine countries, according to Western Union, based in Englewood, Colo.

Members of the diaspora can face challenges finding financing in their home countries if they don't have collateral or a strong business reputation in the local community, said Yohannes Assefa, managing editor of The Ethiopian American magazine.

Alonzo Fulgham, acting administrator of USAID, said even a $50,000 grant can be significant to an entrepreneur in Africa.

While the U.S. gross domestic product per capita was estimated at around $45,000 in 2007, it was around $6,000 in South Africa, and about $150 or less for Burundi, according to statistics from the United Nations.

“We're making significant investments on health and education, but economic growthis key to providing stability inthe nations we're working in,"Fulgham said. "If people don'thave jobs to go to, a nation can'tmove forward."

Tarkghen called the program a great idea.

“It's not just throwing money at the country. It's helping someone create jobs, become an engine to the economy," he said. "As opposed to giving aid and leavesomeone alone, you're actually making a productive citizen."


Art & Music


A CD cover of one of Emmanuel Kembe's music albums Modern music in South Sudan includes hip-hop, Sudanese fusion based on Arabic rythms, reggae and other Western cadres of music. Popular musicians include Emmanuel Jal, Mijok Lang, Major Laks, Emmanuel Marko Kembe, and KennedyLorya, among others.

A portrait by Mareng Chuor DengSource: Gurtong Peace Project

There are also a number of South Sudanese gifted as fine artists, drawers, portrait makers, cartoonists, and sketchers, among others. Using acrylic colours, oil, water and soft pencils, these artists produce creative pieces of art that are recognized globally. Some of the artists include Dau Yong Deng, Mareng Chuor Deng, Leek Thon, Pancol Jook and Joseph Garang Deng, among others.


South Sudan Celebrities.South Sudan has produced many celebrities, including Alek Wek ( a South Sudanese British model) and Luo Deng(Chicago Bulls player).

Luo Deng at United Center in Chicago


Apart from these, South Sudanese have excelled in other sports as well; even beyond the borders. For instance, Luol Deng is basket-ball star with Chicago Bulls in the USA. Other leading international basket-ball players from South Sudan include Manute Bol, Ajou Deng, Kueth Duany, Deng Gai and Ater Majok, among others.

South Sudan is popular for many traditional and modern games and sports. Among these wrestling and mock battles were the most popular. These sports were mainlyplayed after the harvest seasons to celebrate the harvests and wind up the farming seasons. The wrestlers were generally strong young men who were well trained. During the matches, they smear themselves with ochre -perhaps to enhance the grip or just to heighten their mysterious perception. The matches attracted large numbers of spectators who sang, played drums and danced in support of their favorite wrestlers. Though there were perceived as competition, they were basically for entertainment. At the end of it all, people feasted and generally made merry.

A wrestling match in South Sudan

A tug of war

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Soccer is also picking up in country and there are many initiatives by the Government of SouthSudan and other partners to improve the sport. One of these initiatives is South Sudan Youth Sports Association (SSYSA). SSYSA is already holding football clinics in Konyokonyo and Muniki areas of Juba in which young boys and coached to become good footballers. It is envisaged that super-players will emerge from these dusty make-shift football fields both the short and long term. In recognition to these efforts with youth football, the country recently hosted CECAFA Youth soccer competitions. Barely a month earlier, it had also hosted the larger East African Schools Sports tournaments.

S P O R T SMagazine of Beautiful South Sudan 10

Following graduate school, Garang returned to Sudan and became an associate professor at University of Khartoum. After choosing teaching as a career, John Garang joined the faculty of agriculture at Khartoum University, Shambat, where he taught agricultural economics. Besides teaching agriculture, Prof. Garang joined Sudanese army rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Sudan People's Armed Forces (SPAF). As a professor, he usually encouraged students to find ways in which illiteracy and equal education opportunity can be tackled. He enjoyed both reading and teaching, and most people branded him as “bookish.”

In the eighties, changes in government policies started gradually to take effect: President Jafari Nimeiry began issuing series of provocative sharia laws and oil policies which led to start of conflict in South Sudan. In 1980, Mr. Nimeiry called for border changes after oil wells had been discovered in Bentiu, South Sudan. In similar way he called for more decrees, Mr. Nimeiry decided to illegally removed Gen. Joseph Lagu from the presidency of South Sudan. Nimeiry did it because some southerners were politically motivated and interested for that position, [and] told him it is appropriate to remove Gen.Lagu due to his own failure to deliver services to the people. Nimeiry also strongly demanded and politically thought that sharia law must be practiced in all parts of the country. That meant regardless of separate beliefs one has, Islam must and will remain the only national religion in Sudan. Yet the man who called himself president of the republic of Sudan did not give up issuing ridiculous decrees that caused an enormous outcry in the country. In a most suicidal move, he further called Addis Ababa Accord which was signed in 1972 “not a holy Quran” and said he intended to violate it. And he did it. However, the most important question is: Why did President Nimeiry violate the peace accord?

He claims that any agreement which fails to recognize Islam as national religion would not be respected. Southerners upset over Nimeiry divisive policies and his relocation of oil pipelines to the north, and [who]felt that swift actions would be needed to respond to him. Considerably, the response was to launch peaceful and massive demonstrations in major towns and cities across South Sudan. Nimeiry who was the president of Sudan at the time, did not expect his polarizing decrees to lead to violence,but surprisingly they exacerbated the mutiny in Bor.

As it happened, the mutiny in Bor got out of control and prompted southern military officers' attention and five hundred people to quickly respond in the town of Bor. The country was on the brink of civil war without government notice. Civilians responded angrily with slashing tires, breaking shops and calling Arabs to go back to the north. Southern military officers, however, shot bullets in towns in order to scare Arabs away. Then, that was where they can sneak out of town from being captured by theNimeiry regime.

After the mutiny, Nimeiri sent Dr.Garang to Bor so that he can quell down the mutiny, but certainlyGarang chose to join his fellow southerners in the bush. Nimeiry was disappointed with the decision Garang made to join the rebels and he noted that it would be better for 10, 000 troops to die than Garang joining the rebels. Nimeiry viewed Garang departure as a huge blow to his regime for two reasons: Garang was a confidant and trusted person; he was an army officer who knew the regime's weaknesses inside and outside.

On May 16, 1983, the longest civil war on the continent of Africa had officially broken out in Bor. Southerners left the country to fight for their own freedom from Arabs. Fighting began between the southerners and the northerners. Having left the country and the Nimeiry regime, southerners began to face challenges from power struggle to military supplies. In Bilpam, competitive interests on who should lead the movement dominated most of the discussions.

Military officers: Keribino Kuanyin Bol, William Nyuon Bany and Arok Thon Arok, Salva Kiir Mayardit, Gai Tut, Yusif Kuwo, Akuot Atem and Dr.John Garang were participants present at the meeting.

During the process of deliberations, Akuot thought he had the best experience in Sudanese politics to lead the movement, and then follow by Gai Tut. According to Kuanyin, that argument was lacking foundation because of limited foreign affairs both Akuot and Gai possessed to hold that position. Kuanyin took an issue with his opponents and he vehemently disagreed with them on bogus claims of experience. Kuanyin, on the other hand, strongly believed that Dr. Garang was highly educated and had accumulated enough foreign policy to be a chairman. In fact, Kuanyin succeeded when Dr.Garang


became the chairman and him, a deputy. It was a tough challenge for them to deal with, but apparently they came up with a solution. At the end, Dr.Garang in turn became the founder and chairman of SPLM. So the same pattern was used to fit every remaining officer in the chain of command. Though most of them did not honorably serve the mission of South Sudan, I think they deserve respect and their places in history. With the 21 years of long struggle for peace and freedom in Sudan, 2.2 million people lost their lives.

The culmination of the struggle arrived in 2004 when both SPLM and NCP agreed to cease hostility in Sudan. The deal paved the way for peace negotiations. In the process of negotiations, both partners in peace came to the common solution of Comprehensive Peace Agreement. It was called comprehensive because its included security arrangements, power and wealth sharing deals.

In an effort to forge peace settlement, countries such as Italy, Norway, Great Britain and the United States, under IGGAD's media, financially sponsored the peace negotiations. The same peace gave Abyei, Nubian Mountains and Southern Blue Nilespecial rights to vote for their statuses before 2011 referendum. In 2005, Dr.Garang and Ali Taha signed that agreement into permanent peace. During the signing ceremony, peace mediators, international diplomats, United Nations representatives and [Former]US Secretary of State Colin Powell witnessed the agreement in signing.

In July 2005, Dr.Garang was sworn in as first vice president of Sudan and president of South Sudan. He was the first southerner to hold that office in Sudan history. During the inauguration of Dr.Garang into office, statisticians believed that six million people welcome him back in Khartoum. It was a historic turnout to celebrate peace, but to most people-it was a moment in history to share stories of joy and hope. That joy and hope did not last longer because something horrifying happened. Garang's presidential helicopter crashed in a remote area near Imatong Mountain, killing all fourteen aboard, including Vice President Garang. Garang was 60, when his plane crashed while he was flying from Uganda to his headquarters at New Site in South Sudan.

When news about his death started broadcasting on televisions, people inside and outside of Sudan were shocked and saddenned to learn about the tragedy. He served only three weeks in office.

On August of 2005, a piece published in the Financial Times put his death this way: “Garang's death sparked riots and inter-ethnic group violence on Monday in Juba, the southern capital, and in Khartoum, fanning concerns that his death could jeopardize the peace agreement between the southern rebels and the government in the north.” People were very emotional and desperate because their hopes and aspirations were overshadowed by his death. Others believed that Khartoum was behind his death. But according to investigative team, the death was deemed as "an accident."

In a finding released in 2006, the investigators probing the matter blamed bad weather and pilot error responsible for both plane crash and death of passengers on board. The results of that finding could be true but important questions on who killed him were not satisfactorily addressed.

When it comes to Mr. Garang's legacy, adjectival and adverbial words may not exactly describe his towering accomplishments, but telling the truth about his life is so critical to his legacy. By that I mean recognizing his extraordinary achievement and patriotism he offered to his country. His service and sacrifices were remarkable. During the war of liberation, Dr.Garang fought more aggressively for freedom, liberty and peace for marginalized Sudanese. His courageous fight and steadfast leadership on matters of peace and war resulted in the signing of Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005. This landmark peace will put Mr.Garang in a very strong place in history. In history, people will remember him for CPA which has brought the peace. Without his commitment to peace negotiations, CPA would not have been achieved.

Although laying the groundwork for peace with National Congress Party took many months and years of tough negotiations, Mr. Garang finally delivered CPA in a “golden plate” to Sudanese of all ethnicities. Therefore, to some of us who are not generous at giving credit where it is due, it is fair to honor his true legacy of diplomacy and negotiation. Diplomacy can be a complicated subject if not handled cautiously but at the end of the process it has great rewards, such as peace.

Dr.Garang will be remembered in history as freedom fighter, liberator, diplomat and an iconic figure and an architect of CPA.


I've had the privilege of meeting the late Dr. Garang in August 2004, when he flew in from London and made a stop over at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in Texas on his way to phoenix, Arizona. The Dr. Garang I met was a friendly person and a terrific man who can connect with people on a personal level. Garang who dressed up in blue suit and dotted red tie was looking sharp and standing out smart in his diplomatic attire. He was also traveling with his wife Rebecca and two secret service agents. The secret services were there to protect him on each trip abroad. I found him very interesting and inspiring. Before he departed to phoenix, he said to me that people with a lot of knowledge can change the world for better and added we the lost boys of Sudan “can make a tremendous difference.” He further explained that Arab Sudanese in the Arab world comes back to Sudan and it is our turn to be back.”

So hearing those remarks from him struck me most, and I thought it would be a good idea for me to write about him on this day. This biographical information is intended to educate people on his life and, more importantly, it is the best chance for each citizen to appreciate his personal sacrifices and public service he made to Sudan.

Lastly but not the least, former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill once put it this way: “all great things are simple and many can be expressed in single words- freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy and hope.” Churchill was right, and his remarks came at the time in which England faced a fierce attack from Nazi Germany.

Garang, Mandela and Churchill defended freedom and liberty in their countries to show solidarity with the common man. They did it with courage and determination. But before concluding this discussion, it is right to mention the importance of Dr. Garang's military successes in his homeland of Southern Sudan.

Over the course of his military career, John Garang has made some important decisions which helped him win battles in the war of liberation as well as Civil War in Southern Sudan. His success is credited to his best military training he received from Fort Benning, Georgia. Fort Benning is a leading camp for training infantry and commanders. It is appropriate to conclude that freedom is the most precious gift he sacrificed his life for. Sadly, he did not live long enough to enjoy the fruits of freedom and liberty he championed in Sudan.


INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATION


Free at last

Free at last!


Free

at last!


U.S SUPPORT THE SUDAN PEOPLE IN THEIR

JOURNEY FOR FREEDOM

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e Magazine of Beautiful South Sudan 17


MANIFESTATION OF INDEPENDENCE

Independence Transfer of rights to south Sudan


Official Independence celebration

ceremony in Juba.


The Republic of South Sudan Army Forces celebrated the Independence


Public Independence Day celebrations in South Sudan capital city, Juba, July 9, 2011

Flag painted face full with Joy.South Sudanese praising

God for Freedom and Independence.


A Face of freedom


THE FACES OF FREEDOM

WITH JOY AND DISBELIEF.

Independence celebratedwith tradition dances in South Sudan.


Natural ResourcesSouth Sudan is a large country covering 597,000 square kilometers. It is very rich innatural resources. Thiswealth is one of the rootcauses of the severaldecades of war in thecountry. The al-Jallabas and Egyptians backed by the Khartoum government elites sought to plunder the wealth inthe south. This is the main reason why they resisted thecalls for separation becausethey new that would denythem a chance to access the great wealth.

The river Nile traverses the entire country and facilitates trade, administration and urbanization in the country. The river and its many tributaries also provide access to almost unlimited sources of water which services the land, making it fertile to support diverse vegetation and crops.

Treasured natural resources such as various agricultural products like mangoes; minerals like gold and rough Diamonds; and forestry resources like teak

Rich forest cover in South Sudan

River Nile is the major geographic feature in Southern Sudan


A Herd of Elephants

Deers

An antelope, Southern Sudan, South SudanMagazine of Beautiful South Sudan 26

Nile crocodile, the largest crocodile in the world.


Herds of Deers and Zebras in South Sudan

Ostriches Lion


Saddle billed stork

Nile

River

Nile

River


SOUTHERN SUDAN SOCIETYIndigenous people of South Sudan can be broadly categorized into the Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic and the South-Western Sudanic groups. Nilotic people include the Dinka, Nuer, Shilluk, Murle, Kachiopo,Jie, Anyuak, Acholi, Maban, Kuma, Lou (Jur), Bango, Bai, Ndogo, Gulu, Endri, Forgee, Chod (Jur), Khara, Ngorgule, Forugi, Siri, Zandi, Benga, Agar, Pakam, Gok, Ciec, Aliap, Hopi, Guere, Atuot, Apaak, Lango, Pari, Otuho and Ajaa.

Nilo-Hamitic groups include the Bari, Mundari, Kakwa, Pojulu, Nyangwara, Kuku, Latuko, Lokoya, Toposa, Buya, Lopit, Kuku, Kakwa, Nyabgwara, Tennet, Lopit and Didinga.

The South-Western Sudanic group includes Kresh, Balanda, Banda, Ndogo, Zande, Madi, Olubo, Murus, Mundu, Baka, Avukaya and Makaraka.

South Sudanese are world renowned for their impressive height. They are bold, patriotic, hospitable, honest and hard working.

South Sudanese communities generally live in semi-independent homesteads forming villages inhabited by close and extended relatives. Their societies are structured into kinships, clans and villages administered by a king or chief, depending on the ethnic community.

South Sudanese practice Christianity, Islam and indigenous religions. Some communities also believe in the power of spirits. Consequently, diviners, rainmakers, fortune-tellers and spear-masters are revered in these communities.

The South Sudanese generally eat together in groups differentiated by gender, age and social status. Depending on their communities, South Sudanese enjoy a wide variety of foods. Some of their staple foods include milk, beef, dura (millet), sorghum, honey, fish, mutton, traditional herbs and vegetables, groundnuts, beans, wild game, sesame, finger millet and yams.

The famous long-horned cattle prominent in Southern Sudan

Traditional Southern Sudanese dancers

All communities have some form of initiation rite into adulthood. Removal of lower teeth, facial markings, wearing of special beads and male circumcision (among the Bantu groups) are some of the common initiation rites practiced by the people of South Sudan. Marriage is one of the major milestones among South Sudanese and often involves all members of the immediate and extended families, including maternal relatives in some communities. Ordinarily, youthdo not engage in marital arrangements directly; their parents discuss, facilitate and organize marriage of their children. Various communities perform diverse rites during marriages. However, exchange of gifts between families is common.

Bride-price (dowry) is an important element of marriage. Marriage creates deep bonds between the families involved, making divorce impossible except where serious matters are involved. In case of a divorce, the whole dowry or part of it is returned to the man and his family.

Childbirth is also treated as special, with specific rituals being performed depending on the community and gender of the child. Children are generally named according to seasons and events or after relatives. Due to the elevated status of cattle in most communities, children may also be named after the colour of the family cattle. Boys take the colour of bulls while girls take that of cows.

Funeral rites are very elaborate. Among the Dinka community, men are buried on their right and women on their left. Wife inheritance is also practised among several South Sudanese communities, ostensiblyto enable a dead husband's kinsmen to continue his lineage and protect his family. Generally, a widow is inherited by close relatives, although in some communities she is free to pick an inheritor of her choice.

Traditionally, there is clear division of labour depending on gender, age and social status. Men generally fend for and defend the family while women are homemakers.


The Dinka is the largest ethnic group in South Sudan. It is estimated to cover roughly two-thirds of the total population of South Sudan. The population of Dinka is widely distributed over the northern portion of the southern region, mainly in the Upper Nile and Bahr al Ghazal provinces.

A Dinka man with his herds.


Dinka young men with traditional marks

Tourism

A group of kob antelopes in Southern Sudan

A group of ostriches in Southern Sudan

In 2011, the Ministry of Wildlife and Tourism plans to develop and review policies and laws to regulate wildlife conservation in the country, develop management plans for protected areas and sensitize the public on conservation.

The GoSS has stimulated growth of the hotel and hospitality industry to support the gradually maturing tourism sector in the country. There are several hotels now operating in the region in very close proximity with the tourist attraction sites. GoSS is also committed to conserving flora and fauna through appropriate policies and initiatives.

There are about seven national parks and twelve game reservesin South Sudan. Recent surveys by the government in partnership with the Wildlife Conservation Society reveal that these parks and reserves have diverse wildlife species. Theywere inaccessible to human populations during the civil war and are today inhabited by large populations of kob, hartebeests, bongo and topis, giantand red river hogs, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, chimpanzees and forest monkeys, hippos, hyenas, gazelles, zebras, ostriches and lions.


Increasing differences between Kiir and SPLA chairman John Garang in 2004 led to unsuccessful attempts by Garang to replace the popular military leader as commander-in-chief of the SPLA (Sudan Vision, July 8, 2005). There were, in turn, rumors that Kiir was planning to depose Garang and install veteran politician Bono Malwal in his place.

John Garang was Sudan's foremost advocate of a united but democratic and federated Sudan that would incorporate the country's highly diverse peoples into Sudan's narrowly defined power structure, traditionally dominated by three Arab tribes of North Sudan. His particular vision of a “New Sudan” often placed him at odds with the rest of the SPLA/M leadership, many of whom advocated for an independent South Sudan. These divisions grew as the civil war showed few signs of ending and attitudes toward the North hardened. Garang became increasingly intolerant of internal challenges to his program and used force to maintain ideological discipline. However, Garang's vision appears to have died with him in the helicopter crash that claimed his life in July 2005, only months after successfully negotiating the CPA that ended the civil war with Khartoum. Unlike the late Garang, Salva Kiir is a separatist who quickly steered the direction of the SPLM from an organization officially vouching for national unity into an independence movement. Kiir was girded with strong ground support with a dearth of vocal opposition for the shift.

The CPA established a Government of National Unity (GoNU) in Khartoum and a Government of South Sudan (GoSS) based in Juba, Central Equatoria State, with the GoSS president automatically becoming first vice-president of the Republic of

Sudan. Since Garang's death, Kiir has served as first vice-president of the Sudanese GoNU and president of the GoSS. Kiir was not everyone's choice as the movement's new leader, but it was important to follow the established line of succession for the SPLA/M to maintain its international credibility as a partner in the CPA and prevent the movement from splintering. The result was a unanimous vote on the part of the SPLA/M High Command Council to elect Kiir as SPLM chairman and commander-in-chief of the SPLA. He was later reelected by unanimous vote in 2008.

Kiir is not known as a forceful speaker but has used other methods to establish his public presence. Like most Nilotic peoples of the region, Kiir is unusually tall by Western standards and cuts a distinctive look in his typical black suit, red tie and broad-brimmed black hat (the latter innovation has since been adopted by many of Darfur's rebel leaders).


Continued from page 1...

Disengaging from the New SudanIt was widely expected that John Garang's appointment to first vice-president of the Sudan under the terms of the CPA would mark the beginning of a new approach to the crisis in Darfur, but his death and the subsequent takeover by Salva Kiir as vice-president instead marked the beginning of a more muted approach by the SPLA/M to the Darfur crisis. The movement's attempts to unite the fractious Darfur rebels have been largely unsuccessful and even the SPLA/M's limited efforts to help forge a solution to the Darfur crisis have been discouraged by Khartoum. Sudan's National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) recently demanded that South Sudan arrest Darfur rebel leaders who are residing in the region governed by the GoSS (Sudan Tribune, November 8). Salva Kiir has, nonetheless, encouraged the unification of the many Darfur rebel movements, and his discussions with Dr. Khalil Ibrahim's Justice and Equality Movement (JEM - the strongest rebel group in Darfur) have proved particularly worrisome for Khartoum.

With Kiir uninterested in the national presidency, the SPLM decided to run Yasir Sa'id Arman, a northerner and longtime member of the SPLM leadership, for the presidency in the April elections. However, Arman and the other leading challenger, former president and Umma Party leader Sadiq al-Mahdi, both decided to withdraw from the election citing irregularities. Following the withdrawal of the SPLM from the presidential contest, Kiir stunned many by saying he had voted to re-elect National Congress Party (NCP) chairman Omar al-Bashir as president of Sudan (Sudan Tribune, April 18).

Kiir has accused Khartoum of sending only 26% of Sudan's oil revenues to the southern capital of Juba, rather than the 50% designated in the CPA (Sudan Tribune, October 1). Nearly 50% of the revenues that have reached Juba have gone to an

ambitious rearmament program in the South intended to place the SPLA on a more even footing with the conventional forces of the SAF. Nascent efforts have even begun to create a South Sudan Air Force.

Pardoning Thy EnemiesUnder the terms of the CPA, the SAF and the SPLA became the only legal armed groups in Sudan. The many independent or pro-Khartoum militias operating in the South were given the option of disarming or joining one of the legal armed forces. Naturally it became imperative for the SPLA/M to integrate these forces rather than allow pro-Khartoum armed groups to continue their existence in the South. The process, however, has been slow and even appeared to be failing in the last year as a number of SPLA commanders rebelled against Salva Kiir's government in the aftermath of the April elections, which the dissidents complained were fixed in favor of Kiir loyalists.

In January 2006, Salva Kiir's negotiations with longtime anti-SPLA militia commander Paulino Matip Nhial resulted in the traditionally pro-Khartoum Bul Nuer commander joining the SPLA/M. The so-called “Juba Declaration” incorporating “other armed groups” into the SPLA/M was a major coup for Kiir and an important step in convincing remaining Nuer and other tribal dissidents to cooperate with the SPLA/M in the lead-up to the referendum. Paulino Matip was rewarded by being made deputy commander of the SPLA, with promotion to full general in May 2009 (splamilitary.net, May 31, 2009).

As Kiir began preparing South Sudan for the independence referendum (and the possible outbreak of hostilities following a yes vote for a separate state), a series of small rebellions and mutinies by SPLA/M generals and officers threatened to destroy any chance of a unified approach to the question of the Sudanese Republic's formal bifurcation. Many saw the hand of Khartoum and its proven “divide and


conquer” approach to any threat to central authority behind these rebellions. Though Kiir initially responded with force to these challenges, he ultimately turned to an amnesty in September 2010, which, combined with the seeming inevitability of a Southern vote for independence, succeeded in bringing nearly all the rebel commanders back into the fold. It was a bold gambit – before the decision, many Southerners were calling for the utter destruction of the mutinous commanders; after the decision, the families of loyal SPLA troops killed in combating the rebellions were outraged by such pardons (New Sudan Vision, October 11).

The main individuals concerned in the amnesty were the following:

Lieutenant General George Athor: George Athor, a Dinka tribesman, ran as an independent for governor of Jonglei State in the April elections after having failed to receive the nomination of the SPLM. Unhappy with his loss in the polls, Athor and his men began a series of heavy clashes with SPLA forces in late April through May. Athor threatened to take the Unity (Wilayah) State capital of Malakal while SPLM secretary general Pagan Amun accused him of being a pawn of al-Bashir's NCP (Sudan Tribune, May 17; al-Hayat, May 14; see also Terrorism Monitor, May 20). Athor's men are now reported to be rejoining SPLA forces in Jonglei under the command of Major General Peter Bol Kong (Sudan Tribune, November 9).

Major General Gabriel Tang: Tang led a pro-government militia in the civil war. After clashing with the SPLA in 2006, Tang withdrew to Khartoum, where his forces were integrated with the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF). His unannounced return to Malakal in February 2009 led to further clashes with the SPLA that left hundreds dead before Tang returned to

Khartoum (see Terrorism Monitor, March 13, 2009). Tang responded to the amnesty offer within days by flying to Juba and declaring his allegiance to the SPLA/M (Sudan Tribune, October 15).

David Yau Yau: A civilian from Jonglei, David Yau Yau is a member of the Murle Tribe and is allied with George Athor. Yau launched a small rebellion in Jonglei's Pibor County following his defeat in the April elections. He was not named in the September 29 pardons, but is expected to follow George Athor's lead (Miraya FM [Juba], July 5; Small Arms Survey, November 2010).

Colonel Gatluak Gai: A colonel in the Prisons Service of South Sudan, this relatively unknown Nuer officer led a short-lived rebellion in May-June against the SPLA/M in Unity State following allegations of vote rigging there in the April elections. Several sources reported Missiriya Arab fighters amongst Gai's force. The colonel fled north after clashes with the SPLA and has not responded to offers of an amnesty (Gurtong.net, November 18; Sudan Tribune, June 4; Jonglei.com, June 30; Small Arms Survey, November 2010).

Preparing for the Referendum

Kiir's decision not to contest the April 2010 Sudanese presidential elections in favor of running for president of the South Sudan was a clear sign that the SPLA/M was no longer a national movement. With little real opposition, Kiir returned to office with 93% of the vote. As president of the South Sudan, Kiir was automatically made vice-president of the national Sudanese government. In the byzantine realm of Sudanese politics, Dr. Riek Machar, a Nuer warlord who spent many years dedicated to the destruction of the SPLA/M, was made vice-president of the GoSS.


Salva Kiir's statement to supporters in Juba that he intended to vote for outright independence because the North had failed to make unity attractive was condemned by NCP official Rabie Abdelati Obeid, who noted that the CPA “stated clearly that the SPLM with the National Congress Party should work together to achieve unity and to make unity attractive during the interim period…This is a clear violation of the CPA and it is against that agreement…” (Sudan Tribune, October 1; VOA, October 3).

After his return from recent meetings with UN and American officials, Kiir told a crowd in Juba:

"Critically important is that the referenda take place on time, as stipulated in the CPA. Delay or denial of the right of self-determination for the people of Southern Sudan and Abyei risks dangerous instability. There is without question a real risk of a return to violence on a massive scale if the referenda do not go ahead as scheduled… We are genuinely willing to negotiate with our brothers in the North, and are prepared to work in a spirit of partnership to create sustainable relations between northern and southern Sudan for the long-term. It is in our interest to see that the North remains a viable state, just as it should be in the interests of the North to see Southern Sudan emerge a viable one too. The North is our neighbor, it shares our history, and it hosts our brothers and sisters. Moreover, I have reiterated several times in my speeches in the past that even if Southern Sudan separates from the North it will not shift to the Indian Ocean or to the Atlantic Coast!" (Gurtong.net, October 4).

The most contentious issue Kiir must deal with is the future of Abyei, a disputed territory lying along the border of Kordofan (North) and Bahr al-Ghazal (South). A separate referendum to be held simultaneously with the independence vote will determine whether Abyei joins the North or the South. Most of the district's Ngok Dinka peoples are expected to vote for unification with the South, but the nomadic Missiriya Arabs of South Kordofan who pasture their herds there demand to be included in the voting. So far this issue has not been resolved and there are few signs the referendum will take place on time. Khartoum has said a postponement is necessary and Missiriya anger is threatening to create new violence in the already war-ravaged territory. Kiir has promised an SPLM government can provide services to the Missiriya, but cannot hand over the land to Missiriya control (Miriya FM [Juba], November 17). SPLM officials now speak of annexing Abyei if a referendum cannot be held, but only after making significant financial concessions to Khartoum.

Kiir has promised the nomadic Missiriya Arabs that they will continue to be allowed to graze their animals in an independent South Sudan: “Even if they come up to Juba, nobody will stop them” (Sudan Tribune, October 1). However, Kiir may find it difficult to back up such a promise under new attitudes to the presence of Arab nomads in an independent South Sudan. Many southerners harbor memories of the Missiriya's role in the pro-Khartoum murahileen militias. The Missiriya have accused by many southerners of conducting widespread atrocities against the civilian population designed to collapse support for the SPLA/M during the civil war.



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