Namibia recognises South Sudan

NAMIBIA has forged diplomatic relations with the newly constituted South Sudan as a recognised republic after it got its independence from northern Sudan.

Prime Minister Nahas Angula led the Namibian delegation of Minister of Foreign Affairs and other senior government officials to last Friday’s independence celebrations in South Sudan. A statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said founding father Sam Nujoma was also at the celebratory events in his capacity as former president and in recognition for his support and active solidarity with the people of South Sudan during their struggle for self-determination and independence. In the January referendum, the people of South Sudan voted for secession from northern Sudan after negotiations and the signing of a Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) on January 9, 2005. The CPA paved the way for the holding of a referendum six and a half years later to decide whether they wanted to remain part of a united Sudan, or create a new country. During the Anglo-Egyptian colonial administration of Sudan from 1899 to 1956, both northern and southern Sudan were administered separately as two different entities under the Governor General. But in 1947, the British abruptly reversed this policy and decided that north and south would become independent as one country.The ministry said this decision by the colonial authorities that deny the people of southern Sudan the right to self-determination, is one of the main reasons for the 20-year-long bloody civil war. Meanwhile, world leaders hailed the birth on Saturday of the Republic of South Sudan, the world’s newest nation, as a historic event bringing to a close 50 years of conflict in northeastern Africa.Amid tears of joy in Juba, South Sudan’s parliament speaker on Saturday proclaimed his state’s independence, splitting in two what had been Africa’s largest nation.US President Barack Obama led official recognition of the country, calling it ‘another step forward in Africa’s long journey toward opportunity, democracy and justice’.UN chief Ban Ki-moon, speaking at the official ceremony in Juba, said a new chapter had been opened ‘when the people of South Sudan claim their freedom and dignity that is their birthright’.Messages of congratulation flooded in from nations around the world including Brazil, Canada, Egypt, Ethiopia, Jordan, Kenya, Libya, Switzerland and Turkey.South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma said Africans from the Cape to Cairo were proud of South Sudan’s independence, after decades of conflict between the southern rebels and successive Khartoum governments that left the region in ruins and claimed millions of lives.’We have always aspired to witness the dawn of peace, security and stability prevailing in the whole of the Sudan. That dream is coming to fruition,’ said Zuma, adding however that ‘change always brings uncertainty and discomfort’.British Prime Minister David Cameron said an ambassador to Juba had already arrived to take up his post.’This is an historic day, for South Sudan and the whole of Africa,’ he said, adding that Britain was proud to be ‘among the first to recognise South Sudanese independence’.Additional reporting by Nampa-AFP