South Sudan cancels independence day events

By AFP

Sudan

JUN 24, 2017 LISTEN

A woman and a girl carry food on March 10, 2017, from a distribution centre in Ngop in South Sudan, a country where violence and subsequent famine have killed tens of thousands and forced 3.7 million people from their homes. By ALBERT GONZALEZ FARRAN (AFP/File)

Juba (AFP) - South Sudan, the world's youngest nation gripped by civil war, has cancelled its official independence day celebrations for the second year running.

"We are not celebrating... because our situation does not require us to celebrate at a time when there are people in need of these funds," explained government spokesman Michael Makuei of the cancellation.

South Sudan split with Sudan on July 9, 2011 but has been engulfed by civil war since 2013.

Violence and subsequent famine have killed tens of thousands and forced 3.7 million people from their homes.

Its oil-dependant economy is on the brink of collapse, with inflation spiralling to over 800 percent this year.

Last year's independence day celebrations were also cancelled due to violent clashes in Juba between the forces of President Salva Kiir and those loyal to former deputy Reik Machar.