"A Letter from the Ambassador of Japan to South Sudan"

South Sudan marked the 4th anniversary of its independence on the 9th of July, 2015.  As the preparations for the anniversary events were underway, I contemplated on how best I could deliver a congratulatory message on Japan’s behalf to the people of South Sudan, given the friendship that the two countries have thus far nurtured and aiming at further development of the bilateral relations into the future.  On 7 July, ahead of the Independence Day, I handed the message to His Excellency Salva Kiir, President of South Sudan, and the Honourable Barnaba Benjamin, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and followed up by distributing copies to the local press corps.
 
The message reiterates our hope for the highly-anticipated making of peace in South Sudan after embracing domestic differences, engaging all stakeholders and working hand in hand with the international community.  This standpoint derives from Japan’s own experience; once reduced to ashes by war 70 years ago, Japan has consistently followed the path of a peace-loving nation and has managed to achieve today’s peace and prosperity.
(Congratulatory message) https://www.ss.emb-japan.go.jp/en/release_20150707.pdf 
 
 

Courtesy call on H. E.  the President of South Sudan

Handing the message to Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

 
The anniversary event on 9 July at the John Garang Memorial Ground in the heart of the city was attended by many dignitaries from abroad, in particular Africa, including His Excellency the President of Uganda.  The Most Rev. Paulino Lukudu Loro, Catholic Archbishop of Juba, delivered a moving message that touched upon the sense of collective responsibility for the humanitarian crisis that South Sudan currently faces.  President Kiir expressed his resolve to bring about peace. I wish, from the bottom of my heart, that peace be achieved as soon as possible in South Sudan.
 

The Independence Day celebration at the John Garang Memorial Ground

At the independence anniversary banquet

 
Even after the Independence Day, various cultural events ensued.  I myself took part in the Independence Day Half Marathon and enjoyed the 12 km course just as the slogan read, “Run for peace! Run for tolerance!”  At the medal presentation ceremony that I happened to preside over, were senior representatives from the South Sudan Athletic Federation who showed interest in the idea of Sport for Tomorrowthat Japan is promoting ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. 
 
 

 
There were more events organized in the spirit of celebrating the independence.  At a dinner for the diplomatic corps hosted by the President and a dinner for a wide range of people hosted by the Vice President, the South Sudanese in leadership positions one after another expressed their commitment to the deepening of reconciliation and peace-realization.
 
Meanwhile, outside of such lavish arenas, dire situations continue in the country.  On 15 July, when I inspected the Juba College of Nursing and Midwifery (JCONAM) that JICA built in 2010, the school principal explained to me how JCONAM came to house and let study the nursing students of the University of Upper Nile who had to evacuate from Malakal, the northern regional capital currently under siege by the rebels.  Two days after, I went on a guided tour organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and observed—and took part in—the oral cholera vaccination campaign on the Protection of Civilians (PoC) Site adjacent to the UN House in Juba.  The Juba PoC Site alone hosts nearly 30,000 people in makeshift shelters under a congested, harsh living condition. The conflict and food insecurity in the country at large have created the displacement crisis for a staggering 2.2 million people, including those 600,000 who fled to neighbouring countries; yet, the conflict has not come to an end.  The 4th anniversary events took place against the backdrop of those who live to suffer by the day despite the independence the country enjoys, and I strongly believe in empathy and solidarity with people in such circumstances. 
 
 

 

 
What shall we expect one year from now?  Hoping that the next year’s anniversary will be accompanied by the return of peace and displaced people as well as their jubilations, I will double my effort toward our common, urgent need for the peace consolidation.  Such concrete steps toward peace in South Sudan will be the contribution of the Japanese people who have enjoyed peace throughout the postwar period in our faraway homeland.