UNMIS establishes Referendum Base in Mundri West county of Western Equatoria state

September 4, 2010 (MUNDRI WEST) – The United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) has established a County Referendum Base (CRB) in Mundri West county of Western Equatoria state in preparations for the conduct of the upcoming plebiscite early next year.

Government representatives from Juba and the state capital, Yambio, in addition to UNMIS representative travelled to the county to witness the opening of the Base.

Speaking during the inauguration ceremony on Wednesday, Kosti Manibe, Government of Southern Sudan’s minister of Cabinet Affairs and citizen of the County, said “all citizens should continue preparing themselves until 9th Jan 2011 and all South[ern] Sudanese should take lead in the upcoming exercise.”

Kosti said that “CPA is ending on 9th Jan 2011 and there will never be any chance again for self determination, so every citizen should work hard to its success.” He urged citizens of Southern Sudan to go for registration once it kicks off so that no room is left for excuses.

The function was attended by the governor of Western Equatoria state, Bangasi Joseph Bakosoro and UNMIS Regional Coordinator for Southern Sudan, David Gressly and other State dignitaries.

“The referendum is real,” David Gressly, the top U.N. official in Southern Sudan said at the opening of the first County Referendum Base. “Mechanics are starting to move forward and today is symbolic of that,” AP news in Juba quotes him as saying.

On his part, Bakosoro assured that the referendum should be conducted as scheduled in the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

He added that the government of the state and the community of Mundri West will support the Base, which will carry out awareness exercise for the success of referendum in Western Equatoria.

The called upon the people of Southern Sudan to vote wisely and prevent a mistake of refusing freedom while casting their votes in the referendum.

The ceremony which took place near Mundri West airstrip where the base is located was also attended by Bukul Edward Mandeson, the Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly.

In a related development, Yambio Youth Groups assured the Commissioner of Yambio County of preparing to vote for separation in the referendum.

Yambio County commissioner Angelo Bakote Mboringba early in the week met with various youth groups in the county and discussed challenges they were facing as the referendum date approaches. Bakote appreciated the youth for their great stance during concluded elections and urged them to do the same in the up-coming referendum.

He assured the youth of his county administration’s plan to improve in some areas of their interest such as education and sport activities, among others.

The Commissioner donated 1000SDG for the youth groups to buy footballs while cautioning them against using intoxicating drinks like alcohol which he said did not build their talent.

(ST)