The Birth of a new nation
Images from Southern Sudan
Independent Moses Spina arrived into the world at the stroke of midnight – the same moment his country was born.
As car horns, gunshots and whistles heralded the birth of the new Republic of South Sudan, he blinked his way into life, touching his new face with tiny hands.
Outside, the capital of Africa’s newest nation was gridlocked with celebrations, flags flying from trees and cars, drums banging, crowds of people dancing and swaying down unlit roads.
“I am so happy,”says his mother, Josephine Spina, 24. “He was born at exactly midnight. Now, because of his birth, perhaps he can become a President like Salva Kiir.”
As a symbol of hope, Independent Moses’ birth in the early hours of Saturday morning could barely be more potent. His mother is a former child soldier who fought with the Sudan People’s Liberation Army from the age of 14 until she was 19.
“My brother and my sister were killed in the war,” Josephine says. “I had nothing to lose by fighting.”
Now, her little son has been born into a peace this nation has barely known in generations. “I am happy for him,” she says. “He will not fight. He will go to school and become a great man.”
This has been a weekend of hope for South Sudan, a once unimaginable moment finally realised.Two million people – several of Josephine’s family among them – have died for freedom.
Below are just a few of the images I shot during my recent visit covering various projects and initiatives for the charity UNICEF.
A young mother with her baby girl at the new countries only Maternity hospital in Juba.
When South Sudan is born on Saturday it will be one of the worst places in the world to be a child... But it is also a huge moment of optimism for the whole continent...A young girl at the centre for Confident Children in Conflict for former street children.
When South Sudan is born on Saturday it will be one of the worst places in the world to be a child... But it is also a huge moment of optimism for the whole continent...A young girls listen to one of the centres cares at the centre for Confident Children in Conflict for former street children.
When South Sudan is born on Saturday it will be one of the worst places in the world to be a child... But it is also a huge moment of optimism for the whole continent...A young girl at the centre for Confident Children in Conflict for former street children.
When South Sudan is born on Saturday it will be one of the worst places in the world to be a child... But it is also a huge moment of optimism for the whole continent...A young girl at the centre for Confident Children in Conflict for former street children.
South Sudan is born today Saturday 9th July .. a huge moment of optimism for the whole continent of Africa. Lina Maya, 24, is sitting with her 10-month-old twin girls, Lobsa and Godo, and her son Ayen, four. All are malnourished. Lina and her three children fled from Abyei after her husband, a soldier, was killed in the fighting in the area that has killed hundreds and displaced 110,000 people.
South Sudan is born today Saturday 9th July .. a huge moment of optimism for the whole continent of Africa. But the new country still has many problems to overcome. Estelle Poni, 23, is trying to feed her acutely malnourished daughter Victoria, aged nine months from a plastic beaker. Victoria is suffering severe dehydration. In three days she has barely improved.
Ex-child solider John is 19 now. He joined the Sudan People’s Liberation Army when he was 14 and saw three years active service on the frontlines. He is tall but slight and softly spoken. His long fingers play with a beaded cross around his neck when he speaks.
