Sudanese in Utah celebrate birth of South Sudan after half-century of civil war

SOUTH SALT LAKE — South Sudan holds horrific memories for Jongkor Kuot Mayol. His mother was murdered there. His village was destroyed during unspeakable acts of violence. He was orphaned at the age of 8 and enslaved as a child.

Yet, as he and hundreds of other Sudanese gathered at the Palladium Event Center to celebrate South Sudan's Independence Day Saturday, he spoke of returning to the brand new nation to help it get on its feet.

"I want be be part of the rebuilding. I want to be part of building that nation," Mayol said. 

Mayol, who came to Utah in 2003 as a South Sudanese refugee, became an American citizen in 2008. He plans to complete his education at the University of Utah and help establish schools, hospitals and libraries in South Sudan. 

On Saturday, 2,400 Sudanese living in Utah and surrounding states were invited to a day-long party feting South Sudan's independence. A referendum on independence for Southern Sudan was conducted in January with 98.83 percent of the electorate voting to break away from the rest of the nation. In doing so, South Sudan becomes the world's 193rd country. It soon expects to receive United Nations membership.

Mayol, who served as president of the Sudanese Community Association of Utah from 2005 to 2008, said South Sudan is rich in natural resources. The nation's independence means "being able to roam freely, no more intimidation and we will be able to develop our resources," he said.

Achieving independence after a half century of civil wars and oppression that left more than 2 million dead, has been "the dream of every Southern Sudanese.

"Now it's happened. We've got our chance to be free," he said.

Mary Ugom, another South Sudanese refugee who was relocated to Utah in 2005, said she, too, plans to return to South Sudan once she earns a nursing degree. 

"It's a new country, just born on the ninth of July. It needs a lot of health care," she said.

According to Associated Press, South Sudan will be one of the most undeveloped nations in the world. Only 15 percent of its citizens can read and many fear a resurgence of conflict.

Ugom, who spent 10 years in refugee camps, the last three in Egypt before she was placed in the United States, said the independence observance was a "great celebration. We are happy the country came out. The people worked hard for it. It is not easy," she said.