The Republic of South Sudan: Congratulations. We are free again! We are free and independent because we fought hard to achieve it. Let me share with you this thoughtful, searching reflection, a profound message, deeply needed for South Sudanese and African audience. It is a transformative, powerful, clear, and inspiring piece.

Herein below are the orderly sequential flow: A compelling introduction, A penetrating definition of freedom and independence, A narrative that contrasts successful states with failed states, A respectful but honest conclusion that calls for peace, forgiveness, and a return to true freedom and Relevant references for context.

This is my second article, in which to celebrate the independence, 2011, taking stocks of dividends and capture what it means to be free and independent!

What Does the Independence Really Mean?

Today, 9th July 2025, we mark the 14th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of South Sudan, a milestone achieved on 9 July 2011, after centuries of struggle against slavery, colonialism, and internal domination. But today, we must pause and ask ourselves: Do we truly understand the meaning of this freedom?

The Holy Scriptures remind us: “Every human being is born free, but everywhere he is in chains.” These chains are not only the chains placed on us by outsiders, they are also the chains we place upon ourselves through greed, hatred, division, and ignorance.

Before the arrival of foreign empires and faiths, Africa and South Sudan were naturally free; our people lived under the laws of nature, governed by their customs and communities. The challenges of nature, droughts, hunger, and survival, were our only real “chains.”

But beginning in the 19th century, foreign powers came: religious missionaries, slave traders, the Ottoman Empire, and European colonisers. From 1820 to 1898, our ancestors endured forced labour and suffering.

In 1898, the British-Egyptian condominium ended the slave trade, yet still imposed colonial rule. After Sudan’s so-called independence in 1956, Khartoum kept Southern Sudan under internal colonialism for another 55 years, until we rose up and voted for freedom in 2011.

So, what is freedom? And what does independence mean in real terms?

A True Definition of Freedom and Independence

True freedom means living free from domination, free from fear, and free from the chains that hold us back; whether they come from the outside world or from within our own hearts.

True independence means the power to govern ourselves responsibly, to manage our own resources fairly, to protect our people’s rights, and to build a nation where every citizen has equal opportunity to live in dignity, peace, and prosperity.

Freedom without justice is meaningless.

Independence without equality is hypocrisy.

Peace without forgiveness is impossible.

And prosperity without good governance is only a mirage.

Lessons from the World

Many countries have broken free from foreign chains; only to chain themselves through misrule, corruption, and senseless wars. Look at some countries that were once poor and broken:

• United States rose from a British colony to a global power by building democracy and the rule of law.
• Germany and Japan rebuilt from the ashes of war through discipline and good governance.
• Singapore was a tiny, poor port city, today it is one of the richest countries on earth because it chose order, honesty, and merit.
• China was once labelled a third world country; but by focusing on national unity, strategic planning, and development, it has become a superpower in just 30 years.
• India, South Africa, Israel, Tanzania, Ghana, all faced deep wounds of colonialism and internal conflict, yet embraced democracy and the rule of law as their foundation for growth.

The lesson is clear: freedom and independence without discipline, forgiveness, and the rule of law will rot away into chaos and poverty.

Why Have We Deviated?

We must be honest with ourselves: since independence, South Sudan has strayed far from the ideals for which we fought and died.

We have killed our own brothers and sisters not for noble ideas but for positions, wealth, and power. We have wasted national resources that should have built schools, hospitals, and roads. We have sown division instead of unity.

Why? Because we chained ourselves with hatred, tribalism, corruption, and selfishness; the worst chains of all.

The Way Forward

The first step toward true freedom is to acknowledge our mistakes. We must stop blaming outsiders while destroying ourselves from within.

We must embrace peace, reconciliation, and total forgiveness; only then can we free ourselves from the chains of hatred and revenge.

We must commit to equality, justice, democracy, and the rule of law; the same pillars that turned broken nations into prosperous states.

If we fail to do this, our independence will remain an empty word while our people continue to suffer. If we succeed, our freedom will mean something real: a free nation of free people, equal under the law, governed by justice, and prosperous through hard work.

Conclusion

On this 14th anniversary of our independence, let us not just celebrate; let us wake up. Let us remind ourselves that freedom and independence are not gifts given once; they must be defended and renewed every day through our choices and actions.

May we stand together, forgive one another, silence the guns, reject corruption, and build the South Sudan our children deserve.

May God bless South Sudan. May God bless her people. May God guide us back to true freedom.

References

• Jean-Jacques Rousseau, “The Social Contract” — “Man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains.”
• History of the Ottoman Empire in Sudan (1820–1885).
• The Mahdist State and Anglo-Egyptian Condominium (1885–1956).
• The Torit Mutiny (1955) and the liberation struggle.
• Case studies: USA, Germany, Japan, Singapore, China, India, Israel, South Africa.
• Principles of democracy, the rule of law, and good governance.

NB: The author believes that if we fulfil the principles of freedom and independence, our country shall continue, moving towards democracy and the rule of law. What we need is peace, security, equality, justice, mutual respect and hard work. Above all, our expressed unity and resilience of which we are known, could navigate through to ultimate success and greatness