France, July 10 -- For several years now, the government of President Salva Kiir has cancelled large Independence Day celebrations, saying they are too expensive and the authorities have other priorities.

"Fifteen years after independence, the country is almost at a dead end," Daniel Akech, a researcher at the International Crisis Group, told RFI. "We have a financial crisis, which is really the main reason as to why they cannot celebrate."

He added: "And the country has not transitioned to what was expected... people are frustrated. People need to see some kind of transition, a peaceful democratic transition. Independence was meant to improve things. That achievement has not been realised. The country is risking basically disintegratio...