Voter Registration Running Smoothly For Sudan Referendum, Says USAID Official

By Kyle LaFleur

Southern Sudanese referendum registration has gone smoothly both in the African nation as well as internationally, according to US Agency for International Development Sudan Mission Director William Hammink. 

“Registration began on time, November 15th and has proceeded peacefully in the ten states of southern Sudan, the 15 states of northern Sudan and in most of the eight countries where out-of-country registration and voting will take place,” Hammink said. 

Sudanese citizens will be able to register until December 1 for the January 2011 referendum which will decide whether the South and North will remain one country or split into two independent nations. 

“We are continuing to educate communities and voters about the process, to assist local media reporting on the process, to support Sudanese organizations observing the process and to support independent international observation,” Hammink said.