Lakes state Community welcome relocation of capital to Ramciel
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September 6, 2011 (RUMBEK) – Around a thousand people in Lakes state
turned out on Sunday to celebrate the relocation of South Sudan’s
capital from Juba in the south of the country to centrally positioned
Ramciel.
JPEG - 74 kb
Lakes state governor Chol Tong speaking to the press in his office
about the relocation of South Sudan’s capital to Ramciel. (ST)
The Governor of Lakes state Chol Tong Mayay congratulated South
Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and the country’s newly appointed council
of ministers for the bold decision, which comes just less than two
months after the country gained its independence.
Sunday’s celebrations were held in Yirol West, Yirol East and Awerial counties.
Mayay said that Lakes state was "very proud" to become the host of the
capital for Africa’s 54th country.
Governor Chol said the community in area had offered the land to build
the new capital without any conditions to the government.
"I here also would like to thank chiefs and community of Yirol West,
Yirol East and community of Awerial for their courageous to offer this
land to the government without any condition".
John Garang, the first president of Southern Sudan, reportedly wanted
to place the national capital in Ramciel during his administration,
but he died before South Sudan achieved independence and its largest
city of Juba became the capital instead.
The area is inhabited by the Chiec community of the Dinka ethnic
group, who keep cattle and cultivate crops in the highlands of the
area during the dry season, while moving to the Nile marshes during
the wet season.
There are conflicting reports over its suitability for larger-scale
construction, with some characterising the area as sunken and swampy.
Others contend that the rocky highland areas could can support a major
city.
LAKES CITIZENS WELCOME NEW CAPITAL
Abraham Maker Gol, a student from Lakes said that the it was a
"radical decision that deserves popular support from logical citizens.
The issue of land in Juba, was derailing development. In the six years
since South Sudan gained self governance there have been political
tension in Juba between the states and national legislature and
ministries, with both trying to assert their authority on land issues
in particular".
“I am very happy for the president of Republic of South Sudan, to
choose Ramciel as [the] capital city of South Sudan", James Malou a
Lakes state resident said in Rumbek. "I am really telling our citizens
[that] it is the right time to build international city in that
place."
According to Kau Matueny, having the capital city in Ramciel was the
answer for their suffering during the 22 year with the Khartoum
government in North Sudan. “It is a privilege and a gift to the people
of Lakes State for our contribution in the liberation struggle no
matter how marginalised we are - this is our only gift”, he said.
Mark Ochieng, said that it had been a mistake to have the capital in
Juba as it was a junction between neighbouring Kenya, Uganda and
Ethiopia. "I love the president’s decision to relocated [the] capital
to relate [to] all the 10 states of the Republic of Southern Sudan",
he said.
The new location is near the geographic center of the country and
borders the three greater regions of Equatoria, Bahr el Ghazala and
Upper Nile. It is very close to the point at which the borders of
Central Equatoria, Eastern Equatoria, Jonglei, and Lakes states meet.
Manyher Makuendit, another resident, cautioned that “there will be
advantages and disadvantages of the new capital’s location, warning
local inhabitants of the consequences. The capital will be governed by
the national government and not by the host state.
Ramciel no longer belongs to the local residents, he said, it now
belongs to all Southern Sudanese people regardless of their tribe.
(ST)
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