SOUTH SUDAN ANNIVERSARY: South Sudan, a year later

A Sudanese man holds the national flag attending a cultural festival to celebrate the South Sudan’s anniversary July 7, 2012 in Juba, South Sudan. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

After 22 years of conflict one can finally say happy independence day to the newest country of the world, South Sudan. It’s easy for one to keep looking at the positives and to only be optimistic, but at some point one needs to step back and be a little more realistic. Has South Sudan made the progress that it should have?

Although it has only been a year, the country should have a direction to which it should be heading. South Sudan should have started laying the foundations and have made serious plans, created policies and have clear goals it can work towards. They should by now have done the research required to know exactly what the country needs and how they are going to provide those needs.

South Sudan has received many financial investments, have these been used in a beneficial manner? Where has this money gone? South Sudan needs to allow all stakeholders accessibility to the paperwork documenting its progress. The South Sudanese government cannot start off on a bad note and the South Sudanese should never keep silent, granting permission to their government to do Carte Blanche.

The people of South Sudan need to be committed to their country regardless of where they live, they need to keep urging, pushing and questioning the government to do better and be better. Even though the beginning of everything is the most difficult, it is also the time when there is the most dedication and motivation to accomplish, but these qualities are not being put into practice.

I personally think it always starts with a strong constitution, where the people are given enough power to influence government actions and choices. South Sudan has a lot of potential and resources to succeed but it is imperative to have a strong and impartial monitoring system so the government is held accountable for everything they do and don’t do.

And even though not much has been done it’s still early. A country does not become great overnight, or in this case over one year. To the lush, fertile, green, oil bearing, friendly land of the South, may God walk with you in your journey to prosperity.

*Dina blogs at a plain existence

*Featured photo originally posted on Dallas News Photo Blog