Sentiments of Southerners vary greatly in Juba and Khartoum
The referendum entered its last day and Southerners inside and outside Sudan have been vocalising their choice for secession, demanding an independent state from the North. The government of the North is viewed by the Southerners as pushing relentlessly for an Arab Islamic State. The Southerners on the other hand stress that not all Sudanese are Muslims, and the Northern State will not represent them. Therefore, they need and must establish their own country.
Since the start of the referendum process, the people of Southern Sudan in Juba and in other Southern towns gathered to celebrate the establishment of the new state, although the outcome of the referendum has not yet been announced.
All South Sudanese celebrate every night until morning.
Edward Young, a Sudanese citizen from Juba who said he voted for secession emphasised that all Southern Sudanese celebrate every night until morning the birth of their new state and that everyone is thinking about a name for the nascent state.
In the same context Dr. Luka Biong, Minister of Cabinet Affairs in the national government and a leader of the South\'s ruling party Sudan People\'s Liberation Movement (SPLM), said that the arrangements for selecting a name and writing the constitution of the state to be born in the South are all taking place. He as well added that English, Arabic and Swahili will be the official languages of the future independent state.
But despite the preparations taking place in the South in full swing and the joy of Southerners believing in their future as first-class citizens in their own country, there are still numerous families stuck in Khartoum, awaiting their return home. Some of these Southerners living in the North are confused between choosing separation or unity. This uncertainty has prevented many people from registering and voting in the referendum.
SUDANVOTES met Angelina, a housewife living in Haj Yousif. She is a mother to two girls, the eldest of which is a senior in high school, called Maria. Maria said that although she was born in the North and has many friends there, she still wants separation. She explained that she does not associate herself with the habits and traditions of Northerners. Maria was supported by her sister Washal, an eighth grade student. Washal also wants separation and added that she wants the freedom she lacks in the current Sudan. \"The Northerners consider us beneath them. They treat us well out of kindness and pity\", she added. \"We have many friends here. We visit each other and at school we eat together. Despite all that, I still support separation\", stressed Washal.
\"Here in the North we have our friends, we play football, we go to school and we are happy.\"
Angelina\'s sons, Tommy and George, who are in fourth and second grade respectively said: \"We do not know what the best choice is, but here in the North we have our friends, we play football, we go to school and we are happy.\"
Angelina, the head of household, said with tears in her eyes: \"This choice is very difficult, because it is like we are at a crossroads. I am personally confused and I do not know what to do! First, because my husband died eight years ago and the only thing he left for his family is the house where we live. This is the only thing we own. I went to a school and opened a buffet for the students there. This is how I take care of my children, in addition to the financial help I receive from some benefactors. Now, if I go home to Torit, what would I do to support my family? These questions are all questions keeping me awake at night, and that I cannot find any answers for.\"
\"This decision might be easy for politicians, but it is surely very difficult for us citizens\".
She continued \"At least here [in the North] I was able to build a life, but my children as you heard want to go to the South; they are always telling me that we are Southerners and we belong there, especially my eldest daughter. At the same time, I am scared that my children will lose their rights in the South if we stay here. I am also afraid if we remain in the North, we might find ourselves alone surrounded by people who are different from us in culture and religion, and that my children will blame me for that\". Angelina added: \"My eldest daughter has been constantly telling me that if I remain in the North, she will leave to the South alone. This decision might be easy for politicians, but it is surely very difficult for us citizens\".
Along the same lines, I met some young Southerners who said they did not vote because they did not register. They argued that they do not know whether to vote for unity or for separation, adding that they will accept the result of the referendum, no matter what it is.
In Chakla area, Haj Yousif, I found many people packing, waiting to return to the South. Some of them have already spent over a month there, and while most want to go fight for their rights in the South, some of them promised to return to the North again.
