JUBA – South Sudan achieved the simple majority needed to secede in its independence referendum, preliminary results collated by AFP showed on Wednesday, even with many counties still to report.
As several areas returned landslides of 99 percent or more for separation of the mainly Christian, African south from the mainly Arab, Muslim north, the majority was achieved although with some of the region’s 10 states, including its most populous, Jonglei, yet to announce any results.
The figures gathered from state and county referendum officials showed that 2,224,857 votes for independence have already been returned.
That comfortably exceeds the simple majority of 1.89 million votes needed on the 96-percent turnout of the 3,932,588 registered voters. In Lakes state, centred on Rumbek town which served as rebel headquarters during a devastating 1983-2005 civil war with the north, 298,216 of 300,444 votes cast were for independence, a whopping 99.924 percent.
Just 227 opted to remain united with the north – less than one percent – with the balance made up by blank or invalid ballots. In Central Equatoria, which includes the regional capital Juba and is the south’s second most populous state, 449,321, or 98.2 percent of the 457,452 votes cast, were for secession. Just 4,985, or barely one percent, voted for unity.
In Juba, a once sleepy town now poised to become the world’s newest national capital, cheers and applause rang out as the head of the county’s referendum sub-committee, Timon Wani, announced a 97.5-percent majority for independence. “This is a great result,” said Mohammed Lowala, who was among the crowd.
“You cannot get a decision more clear that the south wants to be free than 97.5 percent,” he said. “The people of Juba county have spoken for independence and I am sure that the rest of the south will follow.”
Local resident William Moro said, “We know the result is for separation because that is what everyone wants. But hearing the results announced to make it official will be very exciting – to have the piece of paper to show the north.”
The final result that will set south Sudan on the path to recognition as the world’s newest state in July is not expected before next month after the state results have been collated at regional level and added to those of southerners who voted in the north or in eight countries of the diaspora.
