Voter in Yei: This is our very last bullet
The long awaited time is here! Akir talaga (meaning this is our very ‘last bullet’). And no more,” Mr. Lemeri Francis Taban stressed. Francis, as he prefers to be called, was full of joy and excitement that he was going to take part in determining the future fate of Sudan. He believes that not long from now, South Sudan will be an independent nation.
\"All it takes is wisdom and mutual under-standing amongst all the tribes that are found in the region.\"
However, Francis does not rule out the fact that Southern Sudan is faced with a whole range of issues that need urgent attention. He thinks tribalism and corruption are the most threatening problems that South Sudan has got to deal with if it secedes. \"All it takes is wisdom and mutual understanding amongst all the tribes that are found in the region\", he says.
Although there are many other people who have the same mind as Francis, they agree that it is important to first conclude the referendum to then start dealing with internal problems like tribalism, corruption, nepotism and the like. Southerners at this point in time need collective effort so that we pursue our goal of splitting from the Northern Government,” one voter, who preferred to be unidentified, said. Adding that, after seceding, we can always tackle these ‘simple’ internal problems.”
After having visited many polling centres in Yei and talking to many people to find out their hopes and fears about this remarkable event, there was one thing the people I talked to seem to share. Everyone wanted to participate, even those who never registered. When talking to Mr. Ale Alex Samuel, one of the local observers in Yei, he said: Everyone wants to vote. Even those who did not register feel if they had a chance to vote, they would!” He went on to say that generally, voters are turning up in great numbers to cast their votes. Mr. Ale monitors two centres – Yei Day A and B. He believes that with the exception of those who died, almost everyone who registered will vote, because people take this event more seriously than even the 2010 elections.
The chairperson of the referendum task force in Yei, Col. David Moses Lokonga, provided busses in towns and motorcycles in villages to pick up everyone who is sick, elderly and every vulnerable person to take them to vote and return them home. According to Mr. Ale the effort of providing transport is intended to make sure that everyone casts his or her vote.
After seceding, we can always tackle these ‘simple’ internal problems.”
Another observer who does not what to be mentioned said: People are turning up in big numbers to vote. In fact, yesterday some people were turned away because it was getting late.” Considering how things went on the first days, she believes that things are going to go well all the way to the very end of this polling process.
People in most of the polling centres start arriving at polling stations as early as 5 o\' clock in the morning so they could take first places in the long queues. It is no doubt that people want to fire their \'last bullet\' that is going to change Sudan forever, as one interviewee stressed.
The referendum is a significant event in the history of Sudan, the climax of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that was signed in 2005. The agreement signed between the Government of Sudan (GOS) and the former rebel group, Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) is said to have ended one of the longest civil wars on the African continent. The referendum gives the choice to the Southern people to determine their fate – whether to secede or stay a part of a united Sudan. The majority of the Southern people seem to support secession. And if this is anything to go by, South Sudan will be the youngest nation-state in Africa, after Eritrea splitting from Ethiopia in 1993.
