A nation is born, years past, fast forward to the present ,we are still living in the ancient days. A state emerged from obscurity only to become a state of emergency. Continuing in the steps of old atrocious ways disguised in a new excuses we call democracy, only to satisfy the thirst for one's desires. At first, the struggle was allegedly to be free from oppression but then the same freedom has been turned into a freedom to oppress. As George Santayana puts it "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." So I wonder, is our past so farfetched that it has become hard for us to remember? Yet again this past is so recent it’s not so hard to forget, a past that continues to live on even today. The failure to remember the past means that the future that we strive for is unclear. 35 years of predicaments is indeed a country's own quarter life crisis. A tale and life of a nation born in this war bed we now call South Sudan. A nation chained by pain, suffering, fear and insecurity, breaking even the strongest of hearts. Continues to be the tale of yet another generation, whose hope prevails through broken dreams. A tale passed on from generation to generation, not the kind that has a lesson to be learnt or a happy ending but a tale of never ending despair. “Daddy when will it stop?” she asks looking up at him because according to her, Daddy had the answers to it all, since he had lived through it for far too long. He looks down at her with a weight of shame and says nothing, because nothing had changed and he too has been asking the same question all through his years of him surviving in this land.

When will this purposeless carnage, senseless destruction and disruption of lives end?? That’s the million dollar question everyone is asking at least everyone except of course those who are getting millions out of this.

So Mr. / Mrs. I Only Care About My Egocentric Self, yes you. When will this agitated strife end or rather be stopped? Which without invitation continues to interrupt peace. Will it end when all the so called enemies are eradicated? This enemy who from your point of view should be annihilated at whatever cost, even at the expense of the people who assumingely are meant to be your own. From where I stand there seems to be more enemies than there are friends. It’s like trying to kill two birds with one stone or in this case bullet. So after the killer kills the two birds I wonder does he\she now qualify to lead or does he\she pay for crime? Who will they lead when there are no people left? Since the bullet either killed the birds or chased them away .Who will be left to follow your lead? Unless when aiming at the target, the goal was to lead oneself and the people loyal to you who were shooting right by your side. Which ironically seems to be what is happening all in the name of this African plague called tribalism. We have been made into a nation so divided, no wonder there can be no progress. It is contrary to reason that one can advance to a unified goal of new beginnings when the brainwash into enmity progressively disunites.

What was the aim of becoming independent? Was is it to independently continue the bloodshed. So apart from being “In-dependent” what exactly has been gained?

An “in-dependence” based on the false assumption that force is the only way to attain peace. Which so far has proved to be a series of wrong decisions summed up in war and never attained peace. A force that has been gained through a facade of strength masked behind guns, which when taken would strip this false strength. Dependent on the victim narrative, playing the victim yet you victimize your own people causing a self-made disarray. One doesn’t choose to be a victim but one decides to stay a victim. South Sudan you didn’t choose be the black sheep of Africa, one that everyone is convinced no good can come out of. But you can surely choose to be a people that rise from the ashes of a fire that was meant to burn, but instead strengthened you and caused you to shine. Dependent on being bailed out of a mess caused by a gluttony for wealth, created by others but you know all too well how to take part in its squander. Dependent on the shoulders of your neighbors weighing them down and since you don’t return the favor you are forever indebted to them. Dependent on the international community to help bring you peace when the system only helps itself. Dependent on handouts, an insult to the fact that we have hands able to feed yourself but are tied up by the very same people who claim to want to liberate you. The peace you seek can only be found within you, The People.

As we celebrate our "independence" keep in mind that a people are dependent on this land we call home. The only place to feel a sense of belonging because everywhere else we are just refugees looking for refuge from this pain. Dependent on the hope that when South Sudan was born a joy came into the world to put an end to the sorrow of homelessness. Dependent on the land that they belong to but are disowned. Dependent on the shoulder of a fellow countrymen when things get hard because we all know how it feels to have nothing but still have each other. For at the end of the day we are our brothers' and sisters' keeper, so keep each other safe. Dependent on the hope that their faith in God will not fail them even when men fail. Dependent on the strength within that comes from the faith in the strength that is above us because by our own strength we wouldn’t be able to stand. So we stand on a rock that can’t be shaken, come what may and that’s why despite all that was thrown at us we still stand. Standing strong and firm against injustice saying No! to lies but giving way to nothing but the truth because it’s the only way to be free. A freedom that is for all and not for a chosen few because you were chosen to be the representative of this nation to the world. Chosen to show the beauty of a love that comes from the ashes caused by the flames of hatred. You rise like the morning sun bringing forth hope for a new day to start over anew.

So South Sudan your independence is for a people who are dependent on you.