Obama hails the commencement of voter registration in Sudan

November 15, 2010 (WASHINGTON) – The United States on Monday lauded the kickoff of the voter registration process for citizens of South Sudan who will decide next January whether they want to establish their own state separate from the North.

The 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed between the North and South stipulates that two simultaneous self-determination referendum should be held in South Sudan and Abyei so that its residents should decide their fate. While Southern Sudan will have the option to establish their own state, the people of Abyei are to vote on whether they want to stay with the North or join an independent South.

The Abyei referendum will most certainly be delayed as a commission to organize the vote has not been formed because of disagreements between the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) on who is eligible to take part in the polls.

The turnout for the registration was mostly in the South for fear that that the NCP would seek to intimidate Southern voters residing in the North.

U.S. President Barack Obama described the voter registration as a “critical milestone.”

“The president is extremely pleased that voter registration has begun in Southern Sudan in preparation for the January 9th, 2011 referendum on self-determination,” a White House statement said.

“Voter registration is a critical milestone in that process, and we hope that it will continue unabated We call on northern and southern leaders to finish the work started with the voter registration process to ensure the referendum is peaceful and occurs on time, and that the will of the people of South Sudan is respected regardless of the outcome”

Obama also urged both sides to look for a quick settlement on the issue of Abyei.

“Both parties also must urgently work to find an agreed-upon way forward for Abyei in the interest of lasting peace, and we call on the government of Sudan to fully fund the Southern Sudan referendum commission.”

Yesterday the head of the African Union (AU) high-level panel on Sudan Thabo Mbeki said that the Abyei deadlock will be referred to the presidency for consideration and that he will meet with president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir after the latter returns from Saudi Arabia after performing pilgrimage.

(ST)