By JAMES HART Rebecka Goup (left) led members of the Kansas City area's Sudanese community in song Friday evening. About 60 supporters gathered at Grace Church of the Nazarene to celebrate the birth of the Republic of South Sudan, the world's newest
On Saturday, after decades of guerrilla struggles and intense international pressure, the Republic of South Sudan will officially split off from the north and become Africa's 54th country. Andrew Burton, Associated Press UN Secretary General Ban
South Sudan on the eve of its independence. Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed
South Sudan will become the world's newest country on Saturday as it declares its independence. In anticipation of an uneasy transition to statehood, the United Nations authorized sending 7000 troops and 900 police on Friday to help
The United States isn’t the only nation whose independence is being commemorated this month in Kansas City.
On Friday night, scores of Sudanese living in Kansas City gathered at Grace Church of the Nazarene to celebrate the birth of the Republic of South Sudan.
“To finally have an independent, free nation is a blessing from God,” said Robert Kori, who came to the United States 12 years ago. “We’ve waited a long time for this.”
In January, the people of South Sudan voted to split from the country’s northern region, which is mostly Arab, after decades of fighting and oppression. The most recent civil war started in 1983 and ended in 2005 under a peace deal brokered by the international community.
Despite the heat, many of the men came to the church on Independence Avenue in their best suits, while the women wore dresses made from traditional African prints. They planned to pray for the Republic of South Sudan and, shortly after midnight, sing the new country’s anthem.
CNN coverage of today’s independence celebrations — South Sudan is about eight hours ahead of Kansas City — was going to be projected on a screen in the church’s sanctuary.
“We’ll be here until the wee hours of the morning,” said Joey Condon, a pastor at Grace Church.
The congregation has plans to hold regular worship services for Old Northeast’s Sudanese community.
Kori, who is now a U.S. citizen, has thought about returning to South Sudan, but he probably won’t do so for five or six years. That’s how long he thinks it will take the new country to find its feet.
“You can’t achieve that overnight,” he said.
Experts say South Sudan is one of the world’s most underdeveloped nations. Only 15 percent of the population is literate. The new country is roughly the size of Texas, but it only has about 30 miles of paved roads
Renegade militia leader David Yau Yau receives presidential pardon Tuesday, 28 June 2011 12:35 Sudan. The President of the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS), Salva Kiir Mayardit, has granted.
South Sudan accuses SAF of backing deadly clashes in Warrap state
Ethiopia commences new routes to South Sudan’s Upper Nile region
South Sudan’s speaker of parliament calls for implementation of federal system
Jonglei: Hundreds killed and many cattle raided in Pibor - official
June 24, 2011 (BOR) - Hundreds of people have been killed and a large number of cattle stolen in Pibor county in South Sudan’s largest state of Jonglei following clashes
Gadat Gave Warnings against Misappropriate Oil Revenues in Post Secession. Sudan People Liberation Army (SPLA) split officer Gen Peter Gadate warns SPLM against misappropriation of south oil revenues in post secession.
South Sudan Parliament's Official Angered by
Questions on Constitution. Juba — A public forum 21 June 2011 discussing concerns in the transitional constitution of South Sudan ended abruptly when the invited official from the South Sudan's parliament, who chaired the forum,
South Sudan Vice President Riek Machar denies having own Constitution. Written by Mading Ngor, The New Sudan Vision (NSV), newsudanvision.com Monday, 20 June 2011 17:46
Machar meets US congress members in Washington
South Sudan ministers invited to answer questions on $2 billion missing grain scandal. By Philip Thon Aleu June 16, 2011 (JUBA) – South Sudan Legislative Assembly (SSLA) has invited ministers of finance and legal affairs
Sudan: Over 50 People Killed in Fresh Clashes in Warrap State - S. Sudan Offical 13 June 2011. Turalei — Over 50 people have been killed in fresh clashes between armed groups allegedly associated with rebel groups and local police in Tonj North county, Warrap state, said senior officials from South Sudan on Monday
BREAKING NEWS: North Sudan army carries out air attacks in Unity state, South Sudan says
June 9, 2011 (JUBA) – North Sudan army today carried out intensive air attacks in South Sudan’s Unity state, a state minister has told Sudan Tribune. The attacks
Salva Kiir exposes his rift with Machar over South Sudan transitional constitution June 9, 2011 (KHARTOUM) –
The President of South Sudan’s government, Salva Kiir,
1330 Soldiers Killed and Injured in Clashes in South . Southern Sudan Liberation Army (SSLA) composed of split factions chairs by Gen Peter Gadate accuses Sudan People liberation Army of sending 5000 soldiers from Bahel Ghazal to Launch ethnic cleansing and genocide campaign targets Nuer tribe in unity state.
South Sudan's worst enemy: its own armed forces? A recent United Nations report features shocking details about the harassment of aid groups in the past few months by South Sudanese forces.
SPLA Split Groups Say is Rallying to Sweep Bnatio
khartoum: smc Clashes renewed between Southern Sudan Liberation Army SSLA (composed of SPLA spilt factions) and SPLA at Mayom and Maminshin areas resulted in claiming 45 lives loyal to SPLA.
Slaughter of hundreds of civilians alleged in South Sudan battle St. Paul Pioneer Press, Minnesota 07:10
JUBA, Sudan - Southern Sudan soldiers attacking a rival ethnic group fired indiscriminately on unarmed men, women and children
Southern Parliament: SPLM Attempts Grasp Power, Forms Central Gov. Khartoum (smc) Southern parliament threatens boycott debates the new proposed constitution if Sudan people Liberation Movement insisted to produce a
AP Exclusive: Civilians dead in South Sudan battle
By MAGGIE FICK and JASON STRAZIUSO
JUBA, Sudan (AP) -- Southern Sudan soldiers attacking a rival ethnic group fired indiscriminately on unarmed men, women and children at a remote Nile River village, killing or wounding hundreds of civilians,
THE SPLA COMMITTED WAR CRIMES AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY IN UNITY STATE OF SOUTH SUDAN
H.E. Barack Obama, The President of the United States of America H.E. Dmitry Medvedev, The President of Russia H.E. Hu Jintao, The President of the People Republic of China H.E. David...
Full story
Split Factions Accuses SPLM of Executing Genocide Against Nuer. Southern Sudan Liberation Army (SSLA) holds SPLA responsible for genocide targeted Nuer tribes in unity State. They said governor of the state Taban Deng, Riak Mashar, the commissioner of Mayom and the SPLA
Sudan rivals to meet on flashpoint Abyei region However, the United Nations says it can only confirm that up to 40,000 people are displaced. Yahoo! US 11:08– 1 hr 59 mins ago JUBA, Sudan (AFP) – South Sudan's vice
The number of people displaced from Sudan's disputed Abyei region after its seizure by northern troops has reached 150,000, a southern minister says."The situation is terrible - they are running in fear from brutal violence, without shelter," Humanitarian Affairs Minister James Kok Ruea said.
Sudan: 150,000 flee Abyei clash, says southern minister
The number of people displaced from Sudan's disputed Abyei region after its seizure by northern troops has reached 150,000, a southern minister says."The situation is terrible -
S. Sudan leader rules out war with north over Abyei
May 26, 2011 (JUBA) - As tensions continue within Sudan’s disputed Abyei, the South Sudan leader, Salva Kiir completely ruled out a return to war, instead urging the north the withdraw its forces from the oil-producing region. Salva Kiir speaks (...)
Misseriya tribe denies Sudan militia links SBS 06:06
Central to the conflict over Sudan's fertile Abyei, the nomadic Arab Misseriya tribe says it fully backs Khartoum but denies it belongs to a militia deployed in the contested area.
