South Sudan: Registered voters nears 1 million mark in first week
By Julius N. Uma
November 23, 2010 (JUBA) – A total of 997, 121 voters, representing about 34 percent of the estimated southern population, have so far registered for the regions vote on independence in January, according to the Southern Sudan Referendum Bureau (SSRB).
The figure releases is based on reports obtained from 891 registration centers, mainly the larger urban areas. South Sudan has a total of 2,623 registration center spread across the region.
Registration for the secession vote, agreed as part of a 2005 north-south peace deal, began on November 15 and ends on December 1. The referendum bureau said that the turnout was encouraging.
“Having close to a million people registered within just a period of one week from commencement of official voter’s registration is commendable. We encourage this kind of spirit and urge those who have not yet registered to do so within the remaining days,” Achier Deng, SSRB’s Commissioner for operations told journalists Tuesday.
The southern-based body acknowledged the challenges face in accessing some rural locations. It said it had identified centers, which were in dire need of additional materials and ensured they were delivered immediately.
Deng said, “More than 50 centers have been re-supplied and over 1,690 books and 169 kits have been sent out to aid in the re-supplying of centers where the turn-out has been high in the first week of registration.”
The SSRB Commissioner urged voters to seek alternative registration centers within their vicinity, in the event that they encounter long queues or shortage of materials at the first center they visit.
He specifically appealed to women in the semi-autonomous region to turn out in large numbers and register during the process. Deng urged men to support their wives, mothers and children who are eligible for registration.
On the status of the Diaspora situation, Deng said registration is progressing as planned with the exception of Egypt. A delegation from Southern Sudan Referendum Commission (SSRC) is expected in Egypt, before voting begins in Sudan’s northern neighbor.
The other countries registering voters are: Australia, Canada, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, UK, and US.
Meanwhile, the long-awaited accreditation of the media, initially earmarked to begin prior to the registration process has begun. Accreditation will, according to SSRB, ensure that journalists have unhindered access to referendum centers and people involved in the process.
The referendum, a key part of the 2005 Sudan’s Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) is scheduled for January 9, 2011.
(ST)
Atari _Omoni
South Sudan: Registered voters nears 1 million mark in first week
That is good news to hear, but we still have more days to go.we urge all the citizens to turnout with huge number.
Anyang
South Sudan: Registered voters nears 1 million mark in first week
This is eventually a sign of enthusiasm a mongst Southern Sudanese and they must ensured that,the level of consistencies and steadness is maintained through out the remaining days.
Also, the commissioner in-charge of Southern Sudan’s registration here in South, have to do more than talking incases of accessibility inorder to be to update which what is needed.
Hardlinner
South Sudan: Registered voters nears 1 million mark in first week
mr Julius you need to check your maths. one million registered voters is not equivalent to 34 percent of Made Up population of southern sudanese by NCP but rather 12 percent. in proportion to exact population of south sudan, the registered voters are just 6.6 percent. therefore we expect 7 time the registered voters to later register.
reporters needs to be good mathematically as well as linguistically. so make sure to verify you finding before posting it.