Honorable Johnnie Carson, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of African Affairs, Department of State; Ret. General Colin Powell, Former Secretary of State for the United States; Honorable Susan E. Rice, United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations; and Ambassador R. Barrie Walkley inaugurating the new US Embassy in Juba, South Sudan, on Independence Day, July 9 2011. (Jenn Warren/USAID
A woman waves the flag of South Sudan during independence celebrations in Juba, South Sudan, Saturday, July 9, 2011. South Sudan raised the flag of its new nation for the first time on Saturday, as thousands of South Sudanese citizens swarmed the capital of Juba to celebrate the country's birth. (AP Photo/David Azia)
Honorable Susan E. Rice, United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Ret. General Colin Powell, Former Secretary of State for the United States; with Government of South Sudan Minister to the Office of the President Dr. Cirino Hiteng in Juba, South Sudan, on Independence Day, July 9 2011.
South Sudan: The Road Ahead
Secretary Clinton
"...Just as independence was not inevitable, neither is a lasting peace between Sudan and South Sudan. Decades of war have left deep distrust on both sides and significant social, political and economic challenges. Both nations will have to take decisive steps to consolidate progress."
Ambassador Rice
"Peace and prosperity rest on the foundation of strong institutions devoted to the public interest. Law and justice rest on the foundation of a political system free of corruption and fraud. And education and public health rest on the foundation of a government dedicated to the well-being of all rather than the interests of a few. The same self-reliance that won your freedom can now move you from independence and self-determination to opportunity and democracy. South Sudan's leaders, and the citizens who hold them accountable, now have the chance to create a state that stands out not for its flag or its currency but for the investments it makes in the development of its people."
Ambassador Lyman
"Even as much work remains, I am proud that the United States has been in the forefront of this commitment. It will serve us well if there is peace in this part of Africa, if turmoil and human crises no longer dominate the scene and if we welcome a new partner in the search for a more stable and prosperous world."
