Minister Nyanath calls for nationwide participation in independence day celebrations
Author: Michael Daniel | Published: 2 hours ago
Minister of Culture, Museums and National Heritage, Sarah Nyanath, addresses a press conference at her office in Juba, June 30, 2026 — Credit: Michael Daniel/Eye Radio
The National Minister of Culture, Museums and National Heritage, Sarah Nyanath, has called for a true grassroots Independence Day celebration in South Sudan next week on July 9.
Speaking on the historical importance of 9 July 2011, Minister Nyanath said this year’s celebration should reach every corner of the Republic and demonstrate that national heritage lives not only in institutions, but also in the hearts, homes, and communities of all South Sudanese.
She described Independence Day as the country’s most important national heritage occasion, stressing that it must be actively protected, promoted, and celebrated as a defining symbol of the Republic of South Sudan.
Minister Nyanath said that no ministry responsible for heritage can fully achieve its mandate without actively protecting, promoting, and showcasing the significance of this day, which she described as the foundation of the Republic of South Sudan.
She recalled that the people of South Sudan exercised their right through a referendum, choosing secession and establishing an independent and sovereign nation.
She noted that this moment remains one of the most defining milestones in the country’s history and continues to shape national efforts toward peace, unity, democracy, and development.
The minister announced that 2026 has been designated as the National Heritage Commemoration Year, following a declaration made in April.
During this year, the Ministry of Culture, Museums and National Heritage will lead the observance of four major national events: SPLA Day on 16 May 2026, Independence Day on 9 July 2026, Martyrs Day on 30 August 2026, and the National Cultural Festival scheduled for the first week of December 2026.
She called for nationwide participation in the commemorations, urging that celebrations extend to all communities across the country rather than remaining limited to institutions in urban centers.
“This year should become the first truly grassroots independence celebration in our history, one that reaches every corner of the Republic and demonstrates that our national heritage lives not only in institutions, but also in the hearts, homes, and communities of all South Sudanese,” she said.
She further stressed that Independence Day remains the core of national identity, stating that it is the event that defines the existence of the country and represents its most essential heritage.
National Minister of Culture, Museums and National Heritage, Sarah Nyanath, spoke to the media this afternoon in Juba.