Southern Sudan has voted 98.83% in favor of secession, according to final official results released Monday, February 7 by the referendum commission. This figure confirms the preliminary results given in late January. Nearly four million voters had registered for this historic election, with about 3.8 million in southern Sudan, according to figures from the commission.
The southern Sudanese living in the South, but also those residing in the north and abroad, had the right to participate in this poll. The referendum, held from January 9 to 15, was a key element of the peace agreement that ended two decades of civil war in 2005 between the Khartoum government and southern rebels.
Northerners and southerners officials now have less than six months to reach agreement on sensitive issues, including border demarcation, the sharing of oil revenues or the status of the disputed region of Abyei. The South, mostly Christian and animist, contains in fact 70% of oil deposits, but the refineries and pipelines necessary to export crude oil pass through the North.
Shortly before the official announcement, Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir pledged to recognize the result of self-determination referendum in Southern Sudan. "Today, we proclaim to the world our acceptance and respect the choice made by the people of the South," said Al-Bashir to his supporters in Khartoum.
Effective separation is expected on July 9. For its part, the head of European diplomacy, Catherine Ashton, has urged both sides to work quickly. "We urge the leaders southerners and northerners to continue working together towards a full implementation" of the peace agreement of 2005. The European Union has described the referendum as "historic", and Ashton has pledged to seek a long term partnership with the new state, while acknowledging "the success and credibility" of the vote.
"The EU fully respects the outcome of the referendum, which it regards as the true reflection of the wishes of the people of Southern Sudan, expressed democratically," said the head of European diplomacy. 
The southern Sudanese living in the South, but also those residing in the north and abroad, had the right to participate in this poll. The referendum, held from January 9 to 15, was a key element of the peace agreement that ended two decades of civil war in 2005 between the Khartoum government and southern rebels.
Northerners and southerners officials now have less than six months to reach agreement on sensitive issues, including border demarcation, the sharing of oil revenues or the status of the disputed region of Abyei. The South, mostly Christian and animist, contains in fact 70% of oil deposits, but the refineries and pipelines necessary to export crude oil pass through the North.
Shortly before the official announcement, Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir pledged to recognize the result of self-determination referendum in Southern Sudan. "Today, we proclaim to the world our acceptance and respect the choice made by the people of the South," said Al-Bashir to his supporters in Khartoum.
Effective separation is expected on July 9. For its part, the head of European diplomacy, Catherine Ashton, has urged both sides to work quickly. "We urge the leaders southerners and northerners to continue working together towards a full implementation" of the peace agreement of 2005. The European Union has described the referendum as "historic", and Ashton has pledged to seek a long term partnership with the new state, while acknowledging "the success and credibility" of the vote.
"The EU fully respects the outcome of the referendum, which it regards as the true reflection of the wishes of the people of Southern Sudan, expressed democratically," said the head of European diplomacy.
- Vintage-Veiled Vixens - Darla Baker is a Dark Bride for L'Officiel Russia February 2011 (GALLERY) (01/02/2011)
- Urban Warrior Photography - Darla Baker's Badass Editorial for L'Officiel Russia February 2011 (GALLERY) (02/02/2011)
- Redhead Vixen Editorials - Luisa Bianchin L'Officiel Brazil Spread Shows Dark See-Through Looks (GALLERY) (16/01/2011)
- Kangana on L'Officiel (13/12/2010)
- Sudan's Prez Certifies South's Secession (07/02/2011)
No comments:
Post a Comment