This archive report was first published on 9 July 2019.
On July 9, 2019, South Sudan marked eight years since its independence from Sudan, but the celebrations were low-key due to the country's economic situation.
According to Information Minister Michael Makuei, quoted by Eye Radio, there would be no big celebrations at the national level, but a low-profile celebration would take place at the presidency.
"There will be no celebration at the national level, but there will be a low-profile celebration at the presidency, because we don't want to lose money for doing celebrations as we used to do," Mr Makuei told Eye Radio.
President Salva Kiir was expected to make a national address on this occasion.
South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011 after a decades-long civil war, but the country has been plagued by turmoil and economic challenges since the civil war broke out in 2013.
A peace deal has been agreed, but it has yet to be implemented.
