Pachodo.org

It has been almost a year since South Sudan gained its independence from the North.  After years of war and bloodshed it was a new beginning for the people of South Sudan.

It's a day Lero Adola will never forget. He was there to see the South Sudan flag fly high in the sky for the first time.

Sudan has endured civil war for almost its entire post–colonial history, starting in 1956.  Adola fled the country and eventually came to the US in 2000.

Adola says, "I lost so many people during the war, loved ones, brothers, siblings, friends and also the whole village was burned down in my area that I lived."

After decades of fighting for independence from the north, 99 percent of the region's voters approved the split in an internationally backed referendum.

Adola says, "The people of South Sudan were given the opportunity to express their opinion and that was a once–in–a–lifetime event."

Now almost a year later, Adola says the independence is worth celebrating

Adola says, "We are really celebrating but this is a tear of joy also."

The celebration will by on July 14th at the MN National Guard Building.

Adola says, "The people of MN, the people of Mankato, they are all invited and they are welcome to share with us this moment of celebrate."

It will be an opportunity to remember those who lost their lives and learn about Sudanese culture.

Adola says, "The culture show is most important, it will show each ethnic group the uniqueness of their culture dance."

The south's departure did not put an end to conflicts, and Adola says rebuilding South Sudan will take collective effort from those back home and abroad.

Adola says, "We are working here in the US to know our past, to work for our present, so that the past and present will bring the future."

The independence celebration will be on Saturday, July 14th at 1pm at the Minnesota National Guard Building on Martin Luther King Drive in Mankato.

It is free and open to the public.