Voting begins in Sudan

People in southern Sudan have begun voting in a landmark referendum on independence from the north, a development which is likely to see Africa’s biggest country splitting into two.

 

Southern Sudan started the week-long vote this morning (Sunday) with reports indicating that thousands have been lining up for hours to be among the first to vote on their region’s independence.

 

The Sudanese have a week, starting today [Sunday] to cast their vote on the future of the region.

 

Final results of the referendum are due on February 6.

 

The poll is part of a peace agreement that ended decades of conflict between northern and southern Sudan in 2005.

 

Southern Sudan’s leader, Salva Kiir has said there is no substitute to a peaceful co-existence between northern and southern Sudan.

 

But Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has warned that south Sudan would face instability in the wake of independence.