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South Sudan chooses English as its official language

Photo AFP

After decades of Arabisation and Islamisation by the Khartoum government, newly independent South Sudan, predominantly Christian and African, has opted for English as its official language.

See the BBC’s report here.

"English will make us different and modern. From now on all our laws, textbooks and official documents have to be written in that language. Schools, the police, retail and the media must all operate in English."

- Edward Mokole, Ministry of Higher Education

"With English, we can become one nation. We can iron out our tribal differences and communicate with the rest of the world."

- Rehan Abdelnebi, news director, South Sudan Radio.

"English has become a tool for development, and, even if the British in Sudan are sometimes seen as colonial overlords, the English language is respected."

- Tony Calderbank, British Council director

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