Enough’s South Sudan researcher Maggie Fick reports that the streets in Juba, the capital of southern Sudan, were relatively quiet today, five years since the signing of the landmark peace deal that ended the South’s civil war with the North. “Many people haven’t yet returned from holiday vacation,” Maggie said. “But the quietness is also probably a sign that people are nervous.” While the official CPA commemoration will take place on January 19, tonight’s main event was the Freedom Concert at the city’s cultural center.
The banner above, displayed on one of Juba’s main roundabouts, had been removed by this afternoon. Talking to Maggie today, it sounded like the mood was far from celebratory.
Check out our full coverage and reflections on the anniversary here, here, and here.