South Sudan kicks off construction of national archive building   

JUBA – South Sudan government on Friday launched the construction of a National Archive building in the capital Juba with Vice President for Youth and Gender Cluster, Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior, officiating a ceremony for laying the foundation stone.

The project, the first of its kind since independence, is funded by the government of Norway, but it remains unclear how long and how much it will cost.

Nyandeng said the National Archive building will protect and display the country’s history, culture, and diversity for many generations.

“This process started 11 years ago, almost to this day, when His Royal Highness, The Crown Prince of Norway, promised to gift the country a permanent structure that would be the home of our National Archives,” Nyandeng said during the groundbreaking in Juba on Monday.

Nyandeng described it as a milestone achievement that will be cemented in the history of South Sudan.

“Although this project has stalled several times, my office has worked closely with the Norwegian Embassy, the Ministry of Culture, and various line ministries to make this day possible,” she said.

“And today, I am beyond excited to see that we are closer than ever to achieving our goal. As I stand here today, I see more than just an empty field.”

“I see school children walking through hallways guided by their ancestors and feeling proud of their history. I see my grandchildren and great-grandchildren interacting with liberators and cultures that may have been forgotten.”

She said the staff of the National Archive has managed to preserve national history dated back to the 80s and 90 under challenging conditions and with limited resources.

“When I visited the National Archive last year, I was shocked to find documents dated as far back as 1898. I saw traditional court documents in local dialects dating as far back as the 1920s,” she said.

“I saw newspapers and gazettes from the ’50s and ’60s. I saw our history. I also thank those who worked hard to make this beautiful day possible.”

“This is a gift that will echo through the halls of our history and connect generations. I hope that all who tour this site will remember that the struggles of today are connected to those of our past.”