South Sudan’s road to sovereignty is one of the most painful and costly struggles in modern history. From the outbreak of the first Anyanya war in 1955, through the long decades of civil conflict, to the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005, the journey to independence was marked by immense sacrifice. Thousands of people lost their lives, families were displaced, properties were destroyed, and entire generations were left scarred. Every household in South Sudan has a story of a loss of a father, mother, son, or daughter taken by war. Independence, when it finally came on July 9, 2011, was celebrated with tears of joy and pride. Yet, for many, the dream of freedom soon turned into a nightmare.