South Sudan Begins Referendum Registration

South Sudan Begins Referendum Registration

Thousands of people queued peacefully across Southern Sudan to register for the planned January 9, 2011 referendum.

Reports on the coverage of the first day of voter registration on Monday described the conduct as peaceful.

It says Juba was tranquil and there were queues at the referendum centres.

Opoka Titus Kasino, head of the Referendum Centre number four at Hi Jalaba Basic School said that they started registering at eight and the number of people kept increasing by the hour.

In Tonj, Rumbek, Wau and Yei, registration had a slow start while the referendum centres in Torit were quite busy.

Voter registration in Lakes State kicked off with a peaceful but rather slow start, with referendum centres registering a rather low turn up.

However, those who turned up for registration on the first days of the 17-day exercise have expressed optimism and some announced the choice they made.

The president of the Government of South Sudan officially opened the referendum registration at centre eleven in John Garang Mausoleum.

Speaking to journalists after his registration, Salva Kiir Mayardit called upon all legible South Sudanese to participate in the registration process.

Mr. Kiir said that the registered people must turn up for voting.

Fr. John Mathiang, a diocesan priest for Rumbek Diocese, said the referendum will give identity to Southern Sudanese, determine their future and give them a chance to determine their lives bringing about transformation.

The registration exercise continues for 17 days until December 1.

SCRN/Yinka