No independence celebration this year – Makuei

July 7, 2020 News, Newsbeat, South Sudan

Souther Sudanese children rehearse their dance routine to be performed at half time during South Sudan's national football team match with Kenya as part of the independence day celebrations.

Southern Sudanese children rehearse their dance routine to be performed at half time during South Sudan’s national football team match with Kenya as part of the independence day celebrations.

July 7, 2020 (SSNN) – South Sudan information minister Michael Makuei Lueth has said the country – for the fifth time – will not conduct independence celebrations in both the country’s capital Juba and the state capitals.

Makuei, in an interview with South Sudan News Now, said the country was lacking money that is needed to conduct an independence celebration and said each state among the ten states will see if they can afford something to conduct such celebrations at their own.

“Well, there are not celebrations of independence this year. The country has no money to conduct such activities. There will be no celebration here in Juba,” Makuei said.

“As for the states, the leaders in the states will determine if they can do something at their own cost,” he added.

Since entering a bloody civil war in December 2013, South Sudan has been in an economic crisis and several independence anniversaries since then have passed without celebration in both Juba and the state capitals.