Hundreds of people gathered today at Dr John Garang Mausoleum in Juba to mark the 59th anniversary of the War Veterans Day.

The event is to commemorate the Torit Mutiny in August 18, 1955, during which southern Sudanese soldiers rebelled against the Khartoum government.

The Torit mutiny led to the formation of the Anyanya movement, which fought the Khartoum government until the signing of the Addis Ababa Peace Agreement in 1972.

The Speaker of the national assembly, Manasse Magok Rundial, said South Sudan independence is a result of the Torit mutiny.

He said the mutiny means freedom and human dignity for South Sudanese.

“Torit marked the real beginning of the march towards the hard-won freedom that we achieved on July 9, 2011,” said Hon Rundial.

“It was the stepping stone of our freedom. From that day on, millions of our people have paid ultimate price to bring us to where we are today: a proud, free nation. Torit, for us, means freedom, pride and human dignity.”

Mr Manasse urged all South Sudanese to embrace peace as a reward for the struggle for independence.

‘Bury tribalism or buries us’

At the occasion, Vice President James Wani Igga urges government officials to stop tribalism in government jobs.

He said tribalism is not allowing for equal sharing of the fruits of the struggle for independence.

“Let’s bury tribalism, because if we don’t bury it, it will bury us. Let’s burry it so that the common man can benefit from the tax he is paying,” he told the celebrants.

Tribalism and nepotism are said to have impacted on the employment sector, particularly the youth.

“When you are made a minister, a director general, don’t bring people from the undersecretary to messenger all from your village,” he warned.

“Where will the villages that have no ministers stay in this country? This is 100 percent wrong. Let us be patriotic comrade. We must correct this mistake, so that everybody, according to his ability, gets benefits. This is what will take this country forward.”

The Vice President says the government is committed to restore peace to the country as an achievement of the war veterans.