The first year of independence has been marked by internal strife, economic and social challenges.

South Sudan marks its first independence anniversary today Monday July 9 against a backdrop of internal strife, economic and social hurdles, and national integration challenges. The country broke away from Sudan on July 9, 2011 after decades of civil war followed by a peace treaty and the organisation of an independence referendum.

Celebrations are expected to be held all over the new nation in remembrance of decades of struggle that eventually led to independence. A year ago, the John Garang Mausoleum – the venue of the independence celebrations in the capital, Juba – welcomed thousands of people who turned out to mark the historic moment. Today’s celebrations will however be accompanied by some unmet expectations that many South Sudanese nationals had 12 months ago, said The Standard newspaper of Kenya.

One year on, the challenges of self rule remain. A referendum on the status of oil-rich Abyei Province located between Sudan and South Sudan is still to be organised. Other conflicts in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile States remain unresolved. Thousands of people are still stranded in Sudan or on the border, corruption stalks the new government, and months of a shutdown in oil exports through Sudanese facilities are fanning economic hardship.

The shutdown that was occasioned by a dispute over transportation costs has led to the depreciation of the South Sudan Pound and an inflation rate of more than 70 per cent. On the other hand, frosty relations with Khartoum, border disputes and intermittent conflicts in Jonglei, Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Unity States, are among challenges the new nation has had to contend with since independence.

Besides territorial disputes between Khartoum and Juba, pockets of rebels continue to cause instability in parts of the country. South Sudan says Khartoum is funding such groups, a claim Sudan denies. According to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, more than 800 people were killed in Jonglei State alone between December 2011 and February 2012.