Rejoicing in their homeland’s independence, members of Central Alberta’s South Sudanese community, sang, danced and waved Canadian and Sudanese flags in front of City Hall on Saturday.
At the stroke of midnight, The Republic of South Sudan officially became the world’s newest nation.
“We waited too long for this,” said Henry Wande, 51, who fled the north eastern African country in 2000.
“We have been under slavery for so long. Finally after all our struggles and the help of friend nations, finally we are independent.”
For more than five decades of brutal civil wars between the north and south have been battled throughout the country. Between the latest 1983-2005 conflict, some two million Sudanese died.
The signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005 ended the most recent conflict and led to a referendum in southern Sudan on independence. In January 2011, nearly 100 per cent voted in favour to split from the north.
Moses Bornyi said this is a great day for his homeland. Bornyi has lived in Red Deer since 2004, and in Canada for 10 years.
On Saturday, he proudly shouted to onlookers, they are no longer “Sudanese-Canadians but South Sudanese-Canadians.”
Bornyi said it is not easy to build a nation but he is confident this country will succeed.
“Divorce is not easy,” he said.
Through tears of joy, Angwou Arik said she lost many family members in the bloody civil wars. Arik brought her 21-month old son to City Hall to take in the celebrations. She knew he was too young to understand but she wanted him to be part of the historical day.
“No more war,” said Arik. “No more people are going to die.”
Like many gathered in front of City Hall, Bornyi wanted to express his gratitude to Canada.
“When we were hopeless Canada gave us hope,” he said.
“When we were shelterless, Canada gave us shelter. We are very thankful of this country.”
Gathering on Friday night to watch history unfold together, many South Sudanese said it was difficult to watch from a far but they celebrated in their own way and called family members in the country.
“You know what happened has happened,” said Deng Wil Luol Deng, who moved to Red Deer in 2002 and called his family Saturday morning.
“But today is a new day.”
crhyno@www.reddeeradvocate.com