People throughout southern Sudan have been “shedding tears and shouting for joy” this week as polls opened to voters in the historic Jan. 9-15 referendum that will determine a likely future of independence for the African nation.
Matthew Davies writes for Episcopal News Service:
Bishop Alapayo Manyang Kuctiel of the Diocese of Rumbek described Jan. 9, 2011 — the first of sevens day of voting — as “the second [most] joyous day in my life,” the first being his day of baptism in 1972. He also said that Jan. 9 is the day he wiped away his “tears of sorrow” following the 2005 death of John Garang, first president of southern Sudan.
“Praise be to Almighty God for having kept me and my fellow brothers and sisters to see the joy of this day and exercise our constitutional and democratic rights. I will praise Him for ever,” said Manyang in an e-mail sent to ENS.
The referendum is a main provision in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement that brought an end to a 21-year civil war that claimed 2 million lives and displaced many millions more.
The results of the referendum are expected to be announced by Feb. 14 and should the south vote to secede from the north a transitional period will commence, with the official start of a new nation scheduled for July 9.
“When you ask anybody walking along the road he/she will tell you that ‘this is the day that we have been longing and waiting for,'” Manyang said of the referendum, noting that in Rumbek the turnout on the first two days of voting had been much higher than expected. “I did visit 15 centers and witnessed that the turnout was excellent. Many people returned home without voting because of the long lines in the centers but they … went celebrating and returned back to the polling centers at midnight.”
Bishop Anthony Pogo of Kajo Keji said: “If you ever thought there was going to be violence during the referendum, then you are wrong.”
He described Jan. 9 as a day of celebration, “full of happiness that can be seen on people’s faces and it was really peaceful. I have never witnessed something like this in Sudan.”
For much of Sudan, the referendum has played out peacefully. But in the disputed Abyei region clashes between the Misseriya Arab tribe of the north and Ngok Dinka of the south have resulted in at least 70 deaths, according to reports.
A separate referendum in Abyei to determine whether the disputed region belongs to the north or the south has been delayed indefinitely.
Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul of the Episcopal Church of Sudan has thanked national and international partners for their prayers and support, noting that Sudan has been relatively peaceful since the start of the referendum on Jan. 9.
“More than 60 percent of those registered to vote have voted and there have been very few reports of violence or referendum irregularities from Sudanese, international referendum observers, or the media at this time,” he said in a Jan. 12 letter addressed to church partners. “However, there is still lingering violence along the border, particularly in Abyei and Greater Unity State. Civil unrest in this area rages on and is certainly one of the biggest threats to national security, which has inevitably hampered referendum preparation to the extent that talks have reached a stalemate.”
Deng said he intends to travel with a support team to the Abyei region to assess the situation on the ground and report back to the international community.
The Episcopal Church of Sudan — with its four million members, the vast majority of whom are based in the south — is considered one of the largest non-governmental organizations in southern Sudan and is strategically placed to serve its people in the face of such great adversity.
“The ECS has proven time and again to be an effective mediator between conflicts between rebels and the state,” said Deng. “The ECS is able to use its influence in such situations because of the reputation it has built for itself and the confidence people have in the church to effectively bring communities together.
“One of the main reasons for the church holding such a strong position is because of the timely aid from our partners who encourage us, pray with us and for us, and assist us financially. We now call upon you again, friends in the Lord, to help us in our intentions for this year.”
The U.S.-based Episcopal Church has observed a Season of Prayer for Sudan since mid-September at the request of Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori. Vigils and personal prayer have since been a priority for many who have stood in solidarity which the Episcopal Church of Sudan, a long-standing partner of the U.S.-based Episcopal Church.