W. Equatoria governor supervises referendum voting process in eastern counties

January 15, 2011 (YAMBIO) – The Governor of western Equatoria state Bangasi Joseph Bakosoro paid an official visit to the Counties of Maridi, East and West Mundri Counties, On Friday 14th Jan 2011, to supervise polling in south Sudan’s independence referendum.

Upon arrival in Maridi, the county commissioner, Sette Enosa Aguno told the governor, “polling has been going smoothly in the county without any security threats.”

Aguno added that “over 80% of the registered voters have casted their votes in Maridi County.”

On his Bakosoro’s arrival in Mundri West County, the county commissioner Samson Ephraim Arabi disclosed that “referendum exercise in the county has passed peaceful and free without any case of insecurity of violence reported.”

Arabi said he appreciated the visit of the Western Equatoria state officials, especially the governor, for having paid “a visit to supervise the referendum exercise at grass root level.”

He pointed out that “the people of West Mundri are just waiting to celebrate the independence of southern Sudan.”

When visiting East Mundri commissioner, Ali Francis said, “from Sunday 9th – to the closing date no incident has been reported that will disrupt the conduct of the referendum in the county.”

Francis reported on Friday that, 98% of the registered voters in East Mundri have voted and the target is to get the 100 votes in the county,” by the time voting ended on Saturday.

The chairperson of Mundri East referendum subcommittee John Henry told the visiting officials that polling staff have not faced many challenges during the vote.

Henry said that, “almost 98% of the registered voters have casted their votes as some centers have finished voting in the first 3 days of polls.”

The chairperson of Lui Center of East Mundri, Stephen Zabi mentioned that “out of that out of the 2295 registered voters 27 were remaining”, on Friday. He said he expected the remaining voters to cast their ballot on Saturday.

During the voters’ registration, East Mundri got the highest numbers of registered voters in Western Equatoria State with 34,397 registered voters.

Reflecting on his visit, governor Bakosoro said he appreciated the high turnout of the voters. After three days of voting the Southern Sudan Referendum announced that the quorum of registered voters – 60% – had already been achieved.

Figures from across the south point to a massive turnout, with some states reporting that over 90% of registered southern Sudanese voting.

Bakosoro cautioned the county commissioners to be careful during the counting process.

He said that, “voting is a different process and counting is the most critical process which should be paid attention to at all cost.”

Bakosoro raised optimism that voter turnout had exceeded 98% in Western Equatoria state.

During the seven days of the referendum vote, all the members of state parliament, ministers and advisers scattered across the state to their respective counties and localities to mobilize voters.

Southern Sudan has been voting in a week-long referendum, which is the last major landmark of the 2005 peace deal which ended Africa’s longest civil war.

As votes are being counted, there is sense of jubilation in southern Sudan as a vote for separation from the north is anticipated. Preliminary results will be released on February 1, with final results on February 14.

South’s Sudan’s likely independence would create Africa’s newest, and fifty fifth nation.

(ST)