President Isaias participates in official celebrations of declaration of Republic of South Sudan

President Isaias Afwerki today participated in the official celebrations of the declaration of the Republic of South Sudan in Juba city.

Asmara, 9 July 2011 – President Isaias Afwerki today participated in the official celebrations of the declaration of the Republic of South Sudan in Juba city.

During the celebrations in which the ratification of the transitional constitution, replacement of the  flag of the Republic of Sudan by that of the Republic of South Sudan, military parade and others featured,  Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit was sworn in as the first President of the new State.

Prior to the celebrations, President Isaias visited the statue erected in memory of the late Dr. John Garang, former leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and signed the book of honor.

It is to be called that the people of South Sudan voted for the establishment of  an independent State through holding a referendum six months ago in accordance with the Naivasha Peace Agreement concluded on 9 January 2005.

Accordingly, the Republic of South Sudan became the 193rd member state of the United Nations and the 54th of the African Union.