Juba, South Sudan
December 11, 2021 —- South Sudan’s First Vice President has suggested for the change of the country’s name from South Sudan to suitable names.
On 23 January 2011, members of a steering committee on post-independence governing body announced that upon independence the new country would be called the Republic of South Sudan “out of familiarity and convenience”.
Speaking during the launch of his party General Secretariat, First Vice Dr. Riek Machar, said the name South Sudan is just a direction and it doesn’t reflect the true nature of the country and its people but suggested that it should be renamed “People Republic of Sudan”
“You cannot now call your child South Sudan because South Sudan it’s just like a direction not a name but you can call your son Sudan like I have my brother’s son called “Sudan”.
Machar believes that naming country “People’s Republic of Sudan” matches with history and origin of the people of South Sudan.
He says debates are ongoing with the leaders and South Sudanese to adopt a suitable name for the country.
“So we will debate it what is it that we want to call ourselves. I hope you will accept my People Republic of Sudan”, Dr. Riek stated.
During pre-independence period, many other suggested names include Nile Republic and Cush, a reference to a Biblical-era kingdom in the area but eventually the name “South Sudan” was adopted.
