Next Gen News

Charity Yuyada, 68, who watched the televised ceremony in Juba because they let \ part "too old" Personally, recalled forced to take classes in English rather than Arabic. "Done, who hate us, the language and the [Arab] people," she said.

This first war lasted 17 years and claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. Yuyada spent two and a half years in the bush. Peace lasted from 1972 to 1983, before Garang has a new rebellion led by his Sudan People 's Liberation Army (SPLA).

So hard was the fight in the country that Yuyada was forced to Juba, which was held together by forces moving north. When the SPLA attacks on the city launched in 1990, moved to Khartoum Yuyada for safety. She remained there, a second class citizen separated from their extended family, until in January this year when she returned a day before the referendum Juba.

"In the 21 years of war we had lost hope of freedom," she said. "I 'm so happy we are separated."

But could not hide their excitement their continued bitterness that can be seen on the hand in the inner city. Among the many banners with positive messages for the new country 's future, there was this poem, printed on a banner by the Ministry of Energy and Mines funded:

Illiterate with the goat leathers

After presenting the proposal to the government's council of ministers, they received the go-ahead and a budget – and the news that the statue would be the centrepiece of the independence celebrations. "I am so proud to have been part of this moment," Morbe said. "This day that we have wished for."