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<\/p>\nCriticised by some as too costly and premature, a certain amount of skepticism was surrounding the event organised by the government of South Sudan on Wednesday 31st October to celebrate the signing of a ‘revitalised’ peace agreement in September, after more than four years of civil war. Former vice-president and leader of South Sudan’s main opposition group, the SPLM\/A-IO, Riek Machar had kept his presence unconfirmed until the last minute.<\/p>\n
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On Wednesday morning, he nevertheless set foot in the capital. It was the first time since July 2016 and his escape from Juba amidst heavy fighting between his forces and the government’s army. Over the months that followed, regional peace efforts slowly reopened a dialog with president Salva Kiir. A revitalised version of the 2015 peace agreement was agreed upon in August in Khartoum. In September, this agreement was signed in Addis Ababa by the two leaders as well as other opposition groups.<\/p>\n
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A general mobilisation took place in the capital in the days leading to Wednesday’s celebration. Cars mounted with loud speakers drove around the neighbourhoods and text messages were sent to mobile phones to invite the public to participate. Inmates from Juba central prison joined labourers in cleaning the streets and giving a lick of paint to the side-walks and revive their black and white pattern. Banners calling for peace and unity popped up, showing South Sudan’s leaders side by side in Khartoum. The main venue dedicated to official celebrations in Juba, the John Garang Mausoleum, was refurbished for the occasion.<\/p>\n
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This is where thousands of Juba citizens gathered on Wednesday. They started to occupy the large space surrounding John Garang’s statue early in the morning and waited under the scorching sun for hours until, one after the other, the most senior guests arrived.<\/p>\n
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Riek Machar and other opposition leaders were joined by Sahle-Work Zewde, president of Ethiopia, Omar al Bashir of Sudan, Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, Somalia’s Mohamed Abdullahi, Egypt’s prime minister Mostafa Madbouli and several other foreign dignitaries and officials. After President Salva Kiir had arrived, the celebration kicked off with a colourful procession of South Sudanese traditional folklore groups.<\/p>\n
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David Shearer, head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), declared that \u201cwe could not have believed that this could be possible six months ago\u201d and reminded the audience that \u201cthere were still some clashes going on in the country\u201d. He urged the parties to implement the agreement, and added: \u201cIt’s my hope that some time in the near future the presence of UNMISS is not needed any more\u201d.<\/p>\n
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Gabriel Changson declared on behalf of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance that \u201cwe recognize that we, the leaders, have made mistakes. We shall work to correct them\u201d.<\/p>\n
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Riek Machar took his turn at the podium and delivered a speech mainly in Arabic. He praised the efforts of Omar al Bashir: \u201cYou have proven the skeptics wrong. You were the first to recognise the independence of South Sudan (\u2026). You have helped us bring peace to our country\u201d he said before extending his appreciation to Yoweri Museveni as well.<\/p>\n
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Sahle-Work Zewde, Ethiopia’s recently sworn-in female president, described the celebration as \u201ca truly historic event\u201d and urged \u201cthe vulnerable women, the children, the youth, to congratulate the parties for choosing peace and development over destruction\u201d. She asked South Sudan leaders \u201cto keep their promise\u201d.<\/p>\n
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The president of Somalia, Mohammed Abdullahi, stressed that \u201cthis event shows that South Sudan is committed to revitalise the peace agreement\u201d. He gave a testimony on the damages caused by war in his own country. \u201cWe know all the horrors of war (\u2026). Meanwhile, the world does not wait. Our country had to catch up. I do not wish the same to our brothers from South Sudan\u201d he declared.<\/p>\n
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After Omar Al Bashir was granted an honorary doctorate from the University of Juba’s Institute of Justice, Peace and Security Studies \u2013 a gesture that many criticised on social media \u2013 Salva Kiir took place at the podium. The sun was already falling behind John Garang Mausoleum.<\/p>\n
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The president offered his apology \u201con behalf of all leaders\u201d to the people of South Sudan \u201cfor the physical and emotional wounds you have endured in this war\u201d. He stressed that \u201cthe presence of the opposition today is a strong testimony that war is ending\u201d.<\/p>\n
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