Southern Sudan Referendum
By Rt. Rev. Anthony Poggo,
Bishop, Diocese of Kajo-Keji
As I write this piece, preparations are on for Referendum in Southern Sudan which is to take place from the 9th to 15th January 2011. Due to lack of infrastructure and remote distance too many villages of Southern Sudan coupled with a very high rate of illiteracy necessitates a long period of voting. Many parts of Sudan lack good roads. To give you an idea, I am based in Kajo-Keji. During the rainy season, it takes me 10 to 12 hours to travel 260 kilometers from Kajo-Keji to Juba.
During the referendum, the choice is between unity and separation. On the same day, there is supposed to be a referendum in Abyei for them to choose whether to join the South or the North in the event that the South chooses to separate from the North. This will not take place as there many obstacles to the Abyei referendum.
The people of Southern Sudan are excited on this coming plebiscite. I am hopeful that the prayers as well as the advocacy that has been undertaken will bear fruit. Do continue to pray that the referendum will be held as scheduled and that it be free and fair and that the results will be respected by all the partners.
It is very likely that the people of Southern Sudanese will vote for secession. My fears are on the post referendum period especially since there are still many issues that need to be agreed upon. These issues include; citizenship, Sudan’s foreign debt, national currency, how to share the oil revenues, and how the boundary between the North and the South will be agreed upon. It is estimated that 80% of Sudan’s oil is in the South, while the refinery is in the North. Pray that the two sides will reach an amicable solution to this issue.
Thanks for your prayers
+Anthony Poggo
Bishop Anthony Poggo is the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Adviser for Anglican Communion Affairs and the former Bishop of Kajo-Keji, South Sudan.