Sudan's historic referendum
Sunday 9th of January marked the first of seven days in the historic self-determination referendum for the people of Southern Sudan. The vote in which only southerners are taking part, is widely expected to approve secession from the North.
North and south Sudan have suffered decades of conflicts driven by religious and ethnic divides, with an estimated 1.5 million people killed in the civil war. The vote is a condition of the 2005 deal to end the two-decade north-south conflict.
The Most Rev. Dr. Daniel Deng Bul Tak, Episcopal Archbishop of the Sudan cast his vote at Hai Jalaba Junior School polling station on the first day of voting. Sharing his thoughts outside, Archbishop Daniel spoke of his elation at having finally cast his vote. "We have been waiting fifty five years for this day. This is the day, this is our time." He called the referendum a bridge to a new Sudan and added that this day marked the start of an important event in the history of Sudan.