Western Equatoria State: preliminary result back secession

January 20, 2011 (YAMBIO) – Preliminary results from South Sudan’s referendum in Western Equatoria state (WES) indicate 98.99% of voters have backed the secession of South Sudan, a key measure in South Sudan’s bid to produce Africa’s 55th state.

The Western Equatoria State Referendum High Committee (WESRHC) on 20 January announced the preliminary results of South Sudan’s referendum on independence, showing an overwhelming vote for in favour of secession.

According to Prof. Sibrino Farajalah Barnaba, the chairman of WESRHC, indicated that “98.99 percent have voted for the favour of secession.”

Western Equatoria registered 216,567 voters and about 214,000 are reported to have voted.

There are reported to have been 10 votes for unity, 211,833 for secession, 1003 invalid votes and 372 unmarked.

The referendum was part of a key component of peace deal which ended with a landmark peace deal in 2005, after the death of more than 2 million people in the north-south Sudan civil war.

Supporters of the secession votes in WES include both the current governor, Bangasi Joseph Bakosoro and former governor, Jemma Nunu Kumba, who stood against each other in the April 2010 elections.

Speaking during the ceremony, Prof. Sibrino said, “The results have been so encouraging with the efforts exerted by every citizen of the state.”

“This results, though yet unconfirmed, points to the possibility that a new nation has been born.“ said Sibrino.

Sibrino pointed out that the results will be submitted to Juba to wait for the final results declaration by the South Sudan Referendum Commission in Khartoum comes February 14th 2011.

He urged the communities of WES to wait patiently for the results.

The state’s governor, Bangasi Joseph Bakosoro said “the battle which started since 1955 has just come to an end, the struggle will not continue again, and by the 15th of February it will be over.”

He acknowledged that “Western Equatoria has passed international standards”, citing that “it is difficult for a region coming from war to hold peaceful, transparent elections within a year,”

Voting appears to have passed off peacefully, with no violence from the Lord’s Resistance Army which has been the scourge of the state for five years.

Bakosoro added that, “state never harassed, or intimidated anybody and freedom was for all, whether to vote for unity or secession or even refuse to vote.”

He said he appreciated the roles played by the churches in the state for informing the citizens about the vote.

“The referendum is over; ahead of us is the challenge of strategising for the development of the new country,” said Bakosoro.

Bakosoro congratulated the organized forces and the arrow boys for the “relevant protection for the communities during the referendum which has led to the success of the referendum in the state.”

Arrow boys are local militias armed with mainly traditional weapons, who have been protecting their communities in WES from the LRA threat.

The breakdown of the voter turnout is as follows:

Ezo County 100%,
Mvolo County 99.99%,
Nzara County 99.95%,
Mundri West 99.66%,
Nagero County 99.8%,
Yambio County 98.99%,
Mundri east 98.53%,
Ibba County 98.7%,
Tambura County 98.5%,
Maridi County 97.06%,

(ST)