Voting processes in Northern Bahr el Ghazal reaches over 90 percent

January 14, 2011 (ABYEI) — With just a day left for the voting process to close across the entire Sudan and perhaps in eight other foreign countries, referendum officials in Northern Bahr el Ghazal on Friday said polling process in the area has reached 90%.

The figure was put out following a report by European Union on Thursday that after four days of voting processes, South Sudan’s independence referendum, the voter turnout met the targets for validity. The vote will decide if the south splits from Sudan to become an independent country.

Hundreds of South Sudanese are returning from Khartoum to their homelands in order to vote. Many of them fled to the north decades ago during the war.

However, the repatriation processes meets security challenges including laying several road blocks with subsequent killings and lootings. On Wednesday, Paul Malong Awan Anei, Governor of Northern Bahr el Gazal, told the news conference in Aweil town, capital of the state, that up to10 people were killed and 18 others wounded on last Monday’s ambush attack which occurred as a convoy crosses the hotly contested North-South borders in South Kordofan State, central Sudan.

Governor Anei was also quick to say the figure could be more as he had reports that some 12 vehicles were missing and nobody knows their whereabouts.

Speaking in an interview with Sudan Tribune from Aweil on Friday, Reverend Wol Kuot, chairperson of the state referendum high committee, said 95% of the registered voters in the 265 polling centers in the state have cast their votes.

“As I may have told you already that the beginning of the poll was encouraging, I must confirm to you again that some of the polling centers are now empty because they have completed receiving people coming for voting. There are no more people coming because majority of the registered voters voted overwhelmingly in the first days of the polls. Everyone had wanted to be the first to vote and that was why there were long queues when the voting processes started last Sunday,” said reverend Wol.

Wol said people started coming to the polling centers as early as 4:30 am, especially at Salva Kiir polling center and Maper Akot in Aweil town and some other centers outside the state capital.

“The turning out during the first three days of the voting processing was overwhelming. Everybody wanted to be the first to vote and that some people starting arriving at the polling station as early as 4:30 Am. By 10 am on Sunday 9, both Maper Akot and Salva Kiir polling stations received more than half of their registered voters,” said reverend Wol.

Lucy Ayak Malek, a member of the referendum subcommittee in Aweil East County, also said voting processes in 99 centers in the county is almost at the finishing stage. “The voting processes in Aweil east is at the finishing stage. Majority of the people have finished voting in the first days. The people who are still coming now are either those who are sick and admitted in the hospitals or those who traveled to far places,” said Ayak.
The senior member of the Malualkon based referendum office in the county described the exercise as peaceful and orderly.

“The voting process was one of the most peaceful exercises I ever witnessed. Voters came early and organized. There were no challenges because everybody was concerned and acted as participant. People were happy and there has been much singing as each person cast their ballot and danced in excitement. People are desperate to vote,” described Ayak.

The official said voters gave elderly people with breastfeeding mothers and pregnant priority to vote. Whenever there were elderly people and breast feeding mothers and pregnant, voters in the line no matter how long, would give them chance to go and vote first, she said describing it one of the most unifying exercise ever conducted in the area.

“Many people have walked distance of about four to five hours to the voting centers. People walked all the way from Warayen in the extreme far north to Warguet and many centers. Others made a plan to started traveling to the polling centers three days before the voting began,” she said

Ayak also thanked youth who assisted those elderly people who could manage to walk long distances with transport. “I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank our youth who voluntarily offered transport to those elderly groups who could not afford walking long distances to the polling stations. They have shown spirit of patriotism and loyal to the nation. What they have done is no more equal national service,” she said.

Garang Kuot Kuot, Secretary General of the state government also in an exclusive interview with Sudan Tribune on Friday described the polling processes as one the most dignified and well organized exercise.

The top civil servant in the state also congratulated those who turned out to cast their vote in massive number, saying they have made unforgettable contribution to writing history of the people of south Sudan.

“To the people of Northern Bahr el Ghazal, I congratulated them all for turning out in what I personally witnessed as huge and impressing number to cast their vote. This is a great contribution to the history of our people. I congratulate them for this courage. To those who have not yet cast their votes, I encourage them to vote so that they become part and parcel of our history,” said Kuot.

He said the exercise was conducted in peaceful environment. “The polling never experienced any challenge in term of security and logistics. It was one of the most dignified and well organized exercises. The environment in which was conducted was generally peaceful since it began,” he said.

Northern Bahr al-Ghazal was one of the areas along the north-south borders heavily raided during the long civil war. Villages were burnt, bombs fell and young boys fled for hundreds of miles to escape the violence.’

“After years of horrendous conflict, the people of South Sudan are now
being asked for the first time to decide their own destiny. It is essential
that all participants, whether local organizations or international
observers, work together ensure that the referendum is free and fair, and
that the result – whatever it may be – is supported by all parties.” says
Baroness Cox, in a statement seen by Sudan Tribune.

(ST)