Unity state say that 40 % of population have registered for referendum in first week

By Bonifacio Taban Kuich

November 24, 2010 (BENTIU) – Referendum officials in Unity state say that in the first week of registration for the south’s independence vote in January 163,959 have registered – approximately 40% of the eligible population.

Mayang Tiech commissioner for Bentiu the capital of unity state, said that the biggest challenges of the registration process were transportation, network communication, lack of awareness in the community, insecurity in some counties and lack of finance.

The south’s referendum on independence was agreed as part of a 2005 peace deal between the dominant parties of north and south Sudan. Voter registration for the poll, which most observers and diplomats believe will see the south vote for secession, began on November 15.

Unity state governor Lt. General Taban Deng Gai said state authorities were doing their best to work out the challenges of referendum registration before it ends on December 1.

Gai promise his government will soon control the problems with the help of Government of South Sudan. He urged local citizens including women and those above the age of 18 years to go for registration.

Bentiu’s referendum commissioner Tiech expects that voter numbers will increase over the next week if all state authorities mobilize the communities in the nine counties of Unity state.

Tiech promise that he will work harder with his colleagues in other counties to increase awareness of the referendum.

(ST)