Southern Sudanese In Anchorage Prepare To Celebrate Birth Of A New Nation

Refugees gear up in Alaska to mark major milestone in Africa

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By Alexis Fernandez

Story Created: Jul 8, 2011 at 10:51 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Jul 8, 2011 at 10:51 PM AKDT

 

 
ANCHORAGE—After more than 50 years of bloodshed Africa's largest country has split into two, as South Sudan officially declares itself its own country.
 
The split was the result of a 2005 peace deal that guaranteed a vote six years later, when southerners were told they could secede from the north. In January, 98 percent of southern Sudanese voted to split.
 
"We are very happy,” said Dobuol Deng, a Southern Sudanese refugee who now lives in Anchorage. “Very glad, very exciting.”
 
It's a happy ending that came at a cost: more than 2 million Sudanese people lost their lives and 6 million more were displaced during the civil war, which was fought between 1985-2005.
 
A thousand of those refugees now call Anchorage, Alaska, their home.
 
Sudan's civil war pitted the government-controlled north, occupied by Arabs and Muslims, against the oil-rich south, which is occupied mostly by Christians.
 
"We've been waiting for that day for a long time, but it wasn't easy to reach it," said
Rev. Michael Washtour, who heads up the southern Sudanese ministry at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church.
 
Anchorage refugees say Sudanese communities across the world now have an opportunity to return home if they want to.
 
"We already know that we have a home back there,” Washtour said. “It's going to be up to you (whether you) want to stay in the United States.”
 
Local celebrations will begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Fairview church.

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Denis said on Tuesday, Jul 12 at 10:13 PM

I think such comments are inappropriate, the people who are in uniforms are not soldiers they are just showing that the independence of came through War. Even America too the equality in US came because massive civil which claim a lot lives. US government and American people. I think if you have nothing to write its better to shut up.

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keepyourhandsofmymoney said on Sunday, Jul 10 at 1:02 PM

i find it funny how those idiots are dancing in military uniforms here in the good U.S.of A when they should be in their country helping, oh wait these are the COWARDS that the libTARDs at catholic social service brought into anchorage with the tax payers money..oh wait again libTARDs like catholic social service think everyone's money is their money..

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go home said on Saturday, Jul 9 at 5:03 PM

buh bye now. see ya.

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