For those of you who have been wondering how the referendum went in Sudan… all I can say is that I’m glad I don’t have anything exciting to report.
Things in Western Equatoria (and by all accounts in all of Southern Sudan) were very calm and orderly.
Because much of the population is illiterate, people made their choice by checking a box next to a drawing of a single hand (indicating separation) or a drawing of two clasped hands (indicating a vote for unity). When they were finished voting, they had their index finger dipped in indelible black ink. This prevented any one person from voting multiple times over the course of the several day vote.
The official results will be announced in about a month, however no one really doubts that the results will be. Here is a photo of some preliminary results posted in a town in Western Equatoria, (yes, that’s 116 for Unity, 18,195 for separation)
Now, the hard work starts. Southern Sudan will gain its independence in July of this year. In the meantime they have to write a constitution, choose a name and a flag, open embassies, figure out how to hold elections, raise taxes and defend itself, get its own domain name and international dialing code, design and produce passports, register citizens, set up a postal system, make trade agreements with other countries, issue drivers licenses, set up a health care system, an educational system, a police force, basic infrastructure. There are thousands of returnees coming home after decades of exile who will need to be reintegrated. This new country will be one of the poorest in the world, with some of the worst health outcomes, the least basic services and the weirdest diseases… It is an exciting time to be in Sudan.
Things in Western Equatoria (and by all accounts in all of Southern Sudan) were very calm and orderly.
Because much of the population is illiterate, people made their choice by checking a box next to a drawing of a single hand (indicating separation) or a drawing of two clasped hands (indicating a vote for unity). When they were finished voting, they had their index finger dipped in indelible black ink. This prevented any one person from voting multiple times over the course of the several day vote.
The official results will be announced in about a month, however no one really doubts that the results will be. Here is a photo of some preliminary results posted in a town in Western Equatoria, (yes, that’s 116 for Unity, 18,195 for separation)
Now, the hard work starts. Southern Sudan will gain its independence in July of this year. In the meantime they have to write a constitution, choose a name and a flag, open embassies, figure out how to hold elections, raise taxes and defend itself, get its own domain name and international dialing code, design and produce passports, register citizens, set up a postal system, make trade agreements with other countries, issue drivers licenses, set up a health care system, an educational system, a police force, basic infrastructure. There are thousands of returnees coming home after decades of exile who will need to be reintegrated. This new country will be one of the poorest in the world, with some of the worst health outcomes, the least basic services and the weirdest diseases… It is an exciting time to be in Sudan.
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