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South Sudan
South Sudan fought a terrible war for more than 20 years until its independence in 2011. Only two years later, the country endured another terrifying internal conflict. The level of violence can be measured in numbers: 400,000 dead and about 4 million refugees and six months of extreme hunger in 2017.
It can also be seen on the nation’s flag, which became official during the war for independence. It is a variation of the Sudanese flag, also showing the representation of blood. A black stripe was added to the Southern flag, symbolizing the mourning for the deaths of war.
A wartime flag created to remember the suffering while inheriting a bloodthirsty tradition needs to be re-created from scratch.
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South Sudan Without Blood
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Elements
The region’s nature is our inspiration. The country is crossed by the White Nile. The river is a historical birthplace of civilizations and a primary source of the Sudd wetlands in its 180 km² area.
This critical ecosystem houses more than 400 species of migratory birds every year. For many of those animals, South Sudan is not a place of death. Instead, it is a place of breeding and renewal. Among those animals, we chose the shoebill, unique as the nation. Seemingly unable to fly, this bird travels across Africa to populate the country’s wetlands.
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Colors
It symbolizes all the Sudanese who have left the region in recent years, flying forward but looking back, without forgetting their past and their land.
White represents peace, while black symbolizes the country’s population. The contrast between the colors represents peace, only visible when there is unity, without ethnic or religious conflicts.
Young South Sudan needs unity and hope. The country must start over and reinvent itself from the basic. Our proposal of a black and white flag is our way of desiring focus on what is crucial so that peace can be built.
