South Sudan celebrates independence

Summary

---

Witness History: South Sudan Celebrates Independence

Podcast: Witness History
Host: Daniel Rosny, BBC World Service
Episode Date: July 9, 2026
Episode Theme: A first-hand account of South Sudan's historic independence day on July 9, 2011, as told through archive and the memories of Maluel Balkir, who experienced the transition from decades of conflict to the birth of a new nation.

---

Episode Overview

This episode takes listeners back to July 9, 2011, the day South Sudan became the world’s newest country. Host Daniel Rosny explores the emotions, memories, and meaning of independence through the eyes of Maluel Balkir, who was present in Juba and participated in the creation and teaching of the new national anthem. The episode covers personal stories of displacement, the political build-up to independence, and the hopes and challenges that shaped the moment—and the years that followed.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Emotional Weight of Independence

• Atmosphere in Juba: Streets filled with celebrations, people waving flags, climbing trees for a better view, and the unmistakable sense of history in the making.
  • “We are going to be our own. It felt like I was in something that is bigger than not only myself, like something that I couldn't imagine.” — Maluel Balkir (00:49)
• Personal Reflection: Maluel, 17 at the time, describes the surreal experience of living through an event he previously only read about in history books.
  • “For me to see myself being part of that history, it was really, really something that I would never forget.” — Maluel Balkir (01:55)

2. The Road to Independence

• Background on Conflict:
  • The long civil war in Sudan claimed more than 2 million lives and displaced millions, including Maluel’s family. Southern Sudanese faced oppression and marginalization under Khartoum’s rule (03:52).
• Referendum and Hope:
  • Six months before independence, over 99% of voters chose separation.
    • “This is a moment that maybe I will not have to be a refugee again. We hereby declared Southern Sudan to be an independent and sovereign state.” — Maluel Balkir (02:44; 03:06)
• Life as a Refugee:
  • Maluel shares memories of fleeing to northern Uganda.
    • “Refugee camp was like a safe haven to me because I was coming...where we see relatives dying on the front line...” — Maluel Balkir (03:23)

3. Loss, Resilience, and National Identity

• Leadership Tragedy:
  • The accident and death of Dr. John Garang in 2005 threatened hopes for peace, deeply affecting the displaced community.
    • “People were crying that way in the camp. There was a little bit moment of despair.” — Maluel Balkir (04:57)
    • “Officials from South Sudan... were encouraging us: Even if we lost Dr. John, still the vision continues...” — Maluel Balkir (05:10)
• Building Symbols of Nationhood:
  • Creation of the flag and national anthem. Maluel helped teach the anthem to people across the country.
    • “I was among those that were selected to learn the national anthem and then I was sent across different counties to go and teach other people prior to the Declaration of Independence.” — Maluel Balkir (06:02)
    • Training people took two months and involved schools, churches, police, and military personnel (06:22).

4. Ongoing Challenges

• Unrealized Promise:
  • Despite rich oil resources, conflict and underdevelopment persisted.
  • In 2011, three-quarters of the population were illiterate; one in seven children did not survive beyond five years (06:53).
• Another Civil War:
  • Civil conflict returned in 2013, lasting five years, leading to further suffering and humanitarian crisis (08:04).
    • “Since then, the country has struggled with political instability... In 2026, a humanitarian crisis remains and there are growing fears of a possible return to conflict.” — Daniel Rosny (08:04)

5. The Meaning of Independence

• The Declaration and Celebration:
  • The formal declaration took place at the Dr. John Garang Mausoleum. Many were so caught up in the moment they missed official speeches but not the sense of history.
    • “Even the following day is when people were like, oh, who spoke on the declaration? What really happened? We were having a moment of history where we were just celebrating and enjoying.” — Maluel Balkir (07:35)
• Symbolism of the National Anthem:
  • “It talks about the sacrifice that was done by the martyrs and cementing the foundation of our nation. It reminds us that maybe their struggle was not in vain. They died for something, for us to live in peace and harmony.” — Maluel Balkir (08:48)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Maluel on participating in history:
  • “The idea of independence is something that we read on history books. But for me to see myself being part of that history, it was really, really something that I would never forget.” (01:55)
• On the eve of independence:
  • “The idea that something big and something new is happening tomorrow. I couldn't even sleep.” — Maluel Balkir (02:15)
• On returning from exile:
  • “In our mind was always, oh, now there is peace. It's just a matter of time that we will be going back to South Sudan.” (04:32)
• Reflecting on celebrations overpowering formalities:
  • “Some of the people even didn't hear the word declaration because they were already caught up in the moment of celebration.” — Maluel Balkir (07:35)
• On national memory:
  • “It talks about the sacrifice that was done by the martyrs... They died for something, for us to live in peace and harmony.” — Maluel Balkir (08:48)

---

Important Timestamps

• 00:47–01:24 — Opening description of Juba’s streets on independence day; Maluel’s first feelings
• 02:32–03:23 — Personal account of displacement and finding refuge in Uganda
• 04:32–05:17 — Returning with hope after the peace process; the blow of Dr. John Garang’s death
• 06:02–06:53 — Teaching the national anthem; spreading unity and identity
• 07:35–08:04 — The celebration overtakes formalities; the emotion of the moment
• 08:04–08:48 — Reflection on post-independence challenges and civil conflict
• 08:48–09:09 — The meaning behind the national anthem and the sacrifices made

---

Conclusion

This episode of "Witness History" conveys the powerful hope and pride surrounding South Sudan’s independence, as well as the lasting scars of conflict. Through Maluel Balkir’s story, listeners feel the complexity of nation-building: from the joy of freedom to the sobering reality of ongoing struggles. The creation of national symbols, the shared excitement, and the deep emotions of those who lived through the moment are vividly captured. The episode is both a celebration and a somber reminder of the work still left for a lasting peace.

---

Transcript

[BBC Announcer]

Foreign.

[Daniel Rosny]

Hello, and welcome to Witness History from the BBC World Service with me, Daniel Rosny. If you're already a regular listener, you can skip ahead a bit to get to today's story, but if you're new here, welcome along. We're the program that takes you back to Moments from History with the people who were there. Episodes are just nine minutes long and they come out every weekday. So if that sounds like something that should be part of your daily listening habits, then make sure you subscribe and turn on those push notifications. That means you'll never miss an episode. Right now, I'm taking you back to 2011. I feel so happy for the story of how South Sudan celebrated its independence.

[BBC Announcer]

And we are going to be a nation.

[Maluel Balkir]

We are going to be our own. It felt like I was in something that is bigger than not only myself, like something that I couldn't imagine.

[Daniel Rosny]

It's the 9th of July, 2011, and people are flooding the streets in the city of Juba. They're cheering, waving flags, banging drums and dancing. People who want a better view are climbing up trees. South Sudan is about to become the world's newest nation.

[Maluel Balkir]

This day is a very great day for South Sudan. I swear by the Almighty God that as the President of the Republic of South Sudan, I shall be faithful.

[Daniel Rosny]

It's a journey that began after a peace deal ended a long and bloody civil war in Sudan that killed more than 2 million people.

[Maluel Balkir]

I was overwhelmed with hope and optimism and excitement and joy as someone who was born in the middle of the conflict.

[Daniel Rosny]

Maloua Balkir was 17 years old and he couldn't believe his eyes because being

[Maluel Balkir]

from Sudan, being in East Africa, the idea of independence is something that we read on history books. But for me to see myself being part of that history, it was really, really something that I would never forget.

[Daniel Rosny]

As a teenager, you were aware of the change that was happening. So how were you feeling when you woke up that day?

[Maluel Balkir]

Being free, being in a new country? On the 8th, before the 9th, we knew that tomorrow is going to be a declaration of our independence. The idea that something big and something new is happening tomorrow. I couldn't even sleep. I don't even remember whether I slept.

[Daniel Rosny]

Six months earlier, there'd been a referendum in the southern part of Sudan. More than 99% of the nearly 4 million who voted chose to break away and become an independent state.

[Maluel Balkir]

I feel good, man. I feel good. I knew, oh, wow. This is a moment where I will never be displaced again. This is a moment that maybe I will not have to be a refugee again. We hereby declared Southern Sudan to be an independent and sovereign state.

[Daniel Rosny]

Malawal, you were just seven years old when you were displaced like millions of others and you and your family headed south when you left your home?

[Maluel Balkir]

Well, I fled to northern Uganda in a refugee camp.

[Daniel Rosny]

And how many members of your family fled with you?

[Maluel Balkir]

It was myself, my young brother, my sister who was older than me and my mom. Refugee camp was like a safe haven to me because I was coming in a place where we were running away from aerial bombardments, from attacks, where we see relatives dying on the front line, where we keep bombing back with our cows, with our cattles and things like that. Once I arrived in refugee camp, there was no bombardment anymore and I had the chance to go to school as well.

[Daniel Rosny]

Africa's largest nation was in conflict for decades with communities in the predominantly black and Christian facing political, economic and educational marginalization. Under a mainly Arab, Muslim led government. In the north, the south resisted the nationwide imposition of Islamic Sharia law. Rebel groups took up arms against the state. Tensions escalated over land rights, control of oil revenue and long standing economic neglect. When the peace process began in 2005, Malawal and his family left Uganda to return home.

[Maluel Balkir]

In our mind was always, oh, now there is peace. It's just a matter of time that we will be going back to South Sudan.

[Daniel Rosny]

But then unexpectedly, one of the key figures in South Sudan's story died and it threatened to upend everything. Dr. John Garang was the leader of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement and its military wing. He was traveling back from Uganda in a helicopter when it crashed.

[Maluel Balkir]

People were crying that way in the camp. There was a little bit moment of despair. People thought, oh, maybe we might lose all that he has accomplished with his colleagues, officials from South Sudan that were coming to the camp and encouraging us or even if we lost Dr. John, still the vision continues and things like that.

[Daniel Rosny]

That vision did continue as his successor pledged to pursue his policies. And with 2011 approaching, preparations for an independent South Sudan began to take shape. As well as a functioning state, there were symbols that needed to be created too. A new flag. Officials chose one with three horizontal stripes of black, red and green separated by thin white lines. It has a blue triangle on the left hand side that contains a yellow star. There was also a new national anthem required. A nationwide talent contest was set up with students and staff from the University of Juba Composing the winning entry, Sing

[Maluel Balkir]

Songs of Freedom with Joy. I was among those that were selected to learn the national anthem and then I was sent across different counties to go and teach other people prior to the Declaration of Independence.

[Daniel Rosny]

So how long did that take them to go around the country and teach people the words to the new national anthem?

[Maluel Balkir]

Like two months. Me and my colleagues were divided into different places. We were going to school. We were also going to churches. They were like, okay, we'll bring this number of people from this school, even some people from organized forces, from police, from military. They were brought in one place. And then we teach them to go and teach their colleagues.

[Daniel Rosny]

South Sudan possesses large natural resources, including oil. But it was largely untapped due to constant conflicts. That remains true today. There were other challenges back then too. Around three quarters of the population in 2011 were illiterate. One in seven children wouldn't live to be older than five years old. The Declaration of Independence was a signed in the nation's capital at the Dr. John Garang Mausoleum, A tribute to one of the most influential figures in the country's history, who died in the helicopter crash just weeks after the 2005 peace deal was signed.

[Maluel Balkir]

Despite the fact that everybody was waiting for the declaration of a new country, some of the people even didn't hear the word declaration because they were already caught up in the moment of celebration. Even the following day is when people were like, oh, who spoke on the declaration? What really happened? We were having a moment of history where we were just celebrating and enjoying. It was moment of hope and joy and optimism for the future that lies ahead of me. I didn't know that it would be like the way it is today.

[Daniel Rosny]

Since then, the country has struggled with political instability. By the end of 2013, a civil conflict emerged and continued for five years. It left hundreds of thousands dead. In 2026, a humanitarian crisis remains and there are growing fears of a possible return to conflict. But back in 2011, as the new large flag was raised in the new capital Juba, as the birth of a new nation was introduced to the world, there were tears in the eyes of citizens belting out the new national ambition.

[Maluel Balkir]

It talks about the sacrifice that was done by the matters and cementing the foundation of our nation. It remind us that maybe their struggle was not in vain. They died for something, for us to live in peace and harmony.

[Daniel Rosny]

Maluel Balkir is the co founder of the African Youth Action Network. It's a youth leadership and peace building organization which aims to recruit young people to be agents of peace and prevent conflict. He was speaking to me, Daniel Rosny, for Witness History from the BBC World

[Maluel Balkir]

Service, from the Pioneers we weren't going to ask permission. We're just going to do it.

[BBC Announcer]

And the celebrations you feel you have, you win.

[Daniel Rosny]

I feel it.

[Maluel Balkir]

I was first. I was first.

[Daniel Rosny]

We were so proud of ourselves and

[Maluel Balkir]

Cameron was proud of us, too. I still cannot believe.

[Daniel Rosny]

Was such an amazing feeling. It was incredible.

[BBC Announcer]

To the humiliations.

[Maluel Balkir]

I did cry most of the half. Oh, man, I'm failing. I'm failing. In this sport that I love.

[BBC Announcer]

Sporting Witness takes you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the the people who were there.

[Maluel Balkir]

It's not just about the sport. It's about all the other things that people with disabilities learn from each other.

[BBC Announcer]

For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable moments from all over the world.

[Maluel Balkir]

There's a magic during those moments that carries your soul. We were truly blessed to be a part of history.

[BBC Announcer]

Sporting Witness. Subscribe wherever you get your BBC podcasts.