Thousands of Sudanese turned up at the Dr. John Garang Mausoleum on Thursday, for the final rehearsals in preparation for the July 9th Independence Day celebrations.
Many of them visibly happy, watched and participated in the rehearsal which included traditional dances, the parade mounted by the military, police, and veterans, the flag raising exercise and singing of the national anthem.
During the Anthem rehearsals both old and young were visibly moved, as they raised their right hands to their hearts singing the lines; “sing songs of freedom with joy, for peace, joy and liberty will forever reign”.
The SPLM Secretary General, Pagan Amum, inspected a military parade, and in his address said the people of South Sudan will on Saturday begin a new journey to build a peaceful nation.
// Cue in: South Sudanese will begin…
Cue out:…A better place for all humanity.//
The celebrations for South Sudan which officially becomes Africa’s 54th country will begin on Friday midnight, marking the historic transition from South Sudan to the Republic of South Sudan.
Church bells and drums will sound at Midnight to usher the historic birth of Africa’s 54th country and the world’s 193rd country. In January, South Sudan voted to secede from Sudan and form its own country.
The south Sudan minister, Barnaba Benjamin Marial, says that the historic occasion on Saturday will involve lowering the old flag of Sudan and raising the new flag of the new Republic of South Sudan, Swearing in President Salva Kiir, as the first president of the new country, who will then sign the new constitution.
President Omar Al Bashir, will make his final speech as president of Sudan.
Hundreds of dignitaries including the UN secretary General are continuing to stream into South Sudan for the occasion
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