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Ten years ago, on July 9, the world watched with hope and optimism as the people of South Sudan jubilantly celebrated the birth of their new nation. An overwhelming majority—some 99 percent—had supported independence, reflecting the shared aspirations of millions of South Sudanese to move past decades of war and build a peaceful, equitable country. A decade of political instability, mass displacement, and extreme violence has shattered this dream. For all those who support the people of South Sudan—the United States included—this tenth anniversary of independence is a moment for humble reflection about the severe challenges they face, an honest accounting of what went wrong, and a recommitment to supporting the South Sudanese in charting a new path in the coming years.