As South Sudan commemorates the 70th anniversary of the Torit Mutiny, a pivotal moment in its liberation history, questions continue to surface over why the date remains outside the official calendar of public holidays, despite its profound national significance.
On 18 August 1955, soldiers from the Equatoria Corps
launched a rebellion in the town of Torit against the Khartoum-based Sudanese
government, marking the beginning of organized armed resistance in the South.
The mutiny laid the foundation for a decades-long struggle
that culminated in South Sudan’s independence in 2011.
Today, the town is revered as the spiritual birthplace of
the liberation movement. Yet, the symbolic weight of the day has not been
matched by official policy.
“We recognize the day, and we recognize all the heroes and
heroines. The brave men and women who set their stage for our liberation. And
those veterans who are still alive. We appreciate and recommend them for the
excellent work,” said Rt. Hon. Jemma Nunu Kumba, Speaker of the National
Parliament, during a parliamentary session on Monday.
Nunu’s comments came as some Members of Parliament questioned
why 18 August is still not a public holiday.
Though commemorated by veterans and local communities, the
day is officially classified as an “observed day,” not a full public holiday.
The government has cited concerns about the growing number
of holidays in the national calendar.
“A long time ago. I think seven or eight years ago, we
discussed this question because now we have so many holidays. And we
commemorate 18th as an observed day,” explained James Hoth Mai, National
Minister of Labor.
“Observed day, meaning that yes, is not a public holiday,
but can be celebrated. We have veterans. They can invite anybody that can
attend that celebration. So, this is why we left it out.”
This gap between symbolic honor and legal recognition has
frustrated historians, veterans, and citizens who see it as a missed chance to
strengthen national unity.
Though in 2007, President Salva Kiir Mayardit declared 18
August the official day to commemorate South Sudanese war veterans.
The move acknowledged Torit's legacy, which includes producing influential figures like Father Saturnino Lohure, Joseph H. Oduho, and General Emilio Tafeng, and hosting the first SPLM/A headquarters under Dr. John Garang.