Praising God, the world\u2019s newest nation raised its flag for the first time Saturday, rejoicing that 20 years of war are apparently over.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have reclaimed our permanent home given to us by God as our birthright,\u201d proclaimed Salva Kiir, president of South Sudan. \u201cNever again shall South Sudanese be oppressed for their political beliefs. Never again shall our people be discriminated [against] on account of race or religion. Never again shall we roam the world as sojourners and refugees.\u201d<\/p>\n
Official ceremonies began with the singing of the country\u2019s new national anthem, which begins, \u201cOh God, we praise and glorify you for your grace on South Sudan.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter enduring two decades of warfare and the deaths of 2 million people, the Republic of South Sudan saw its day of independence,\u201d reported Charles Braddix and Zoe Allen for Baptist Press. \u201cHundreds of thousands of people gathered in Juba, the new nation\u2019s capital, as they heard Kiir, declare the southern region of Sudan free and independent of the north.\u201d<\/p>\n
South Sudan\u2019s official declaration of independence was read out at 1:25 p.m., followed by Kiir being sworn in as the new nation\u2019s president.<\/p>\n
“The division between the north and the south is sharp,\u201d noted the Baptist Press writers. \u201cThe north is arid, Arab and Muslim, while the south has many varieties of vegetation, is black African and is predominantly Christian and animistic.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAs we bask in the glory of nationhood,\u201d said Kiir, \u201cI call upon all South Sudanese to put the long and sad history of war, hardship and loss behind them and open a new chapter of peace and reconciliation in our lives.\u201d<\/p>\n
With elaborate ceremony, the flag of Sudan was lowered and the new flag of South Sudan was raised. South Sudan is now the world\u2019s newest nation, raising the global number to 196, and the African continent\u2019s 54th nation-state.<\/p>\n
Among the many dignitaries on hand Saturday were former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, who played a key role in the 2005 peace agreement to end Sudan\u2019s civil war, and Susan Rice, the U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations.<\/p>\n
\u201cIndependence is not a gift that you were given,\u201d Rice said. \u201cIndependence is a prize that you have won.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Praising God, the world\u2019s newest nation raised its flag for the first time Saturday, rejoicing that 20 years of war are apparently over. \u201cWe have reclaimed our permanent home given to us by God as our birthright,\u201d proclaimed Salva Kiir, president of South Sudan. \u201cNever again shall South Sudanese be oppressed for their political beliefs.…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":270,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fbia_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[2204,2201,1054],"class_list":["post-4099","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-christian","tag-news","tag-south-sudan"],"yoast_head":"\n