Christian World Service is encouraged by partners' reports on the South Sudan referendum that began on January 9.

The critical referendum on whether to split from the north will continue until January 15. CWS is asking churches to accompany the Sudanese with prayers and support during and after the referendum.

“I am cautiously optimistic and delighted that voting so far has proceeded in a peaceful and orderly way in what is a very fragile situation,” said John Gould, CWS International Programmes Officer, who last visited the south in 2007.

Peter Wadella of the Maridi Service Agency (MSA) reported, “a very tremendous turnup in Maridi County. So far the process is very peaceful and people are voting with a lot of joy and happiness. We hope this will continue till the announcement of the results hoping that the will of the people through the ballots will be democratically honoured.

“MSA has played a greater role in this referendum in providing civic voter education throughout the county from the time of registration to the polls. FM radio played a very tremendous role in mobilising people in this referendum."

The general secretary of Action by Churches Together Alliance, John Nduna, said: “A free and fair referendum is critical not only for the people of southern Sudan but for all Sudan. The outcome of the referendum will affect the lives of all Sudanese and the future of the region." Christian World Service is a member of the ACT Alliance.

Praising the parties to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) – the Southern Sudan Referendum Commission and the Southern Sudan Referendum Bureau – for their work in facilitating the referendum process, Mr Nduna said they must now do their utmost to ensure electoral transparency. 

Mr Nduna said the verdict of the people of southern Sudan must be respected, whether they decide to secede or stay united with the north.  “ACT takes no sides and no view on the outcome of the referendum”, he said.  “As a humanitarian alliance, we work in north and south Sudan and Darfur with people of all backgrounds, to meet the requirements of those in the greatest need”.

The referendum is a provision of the CPA signed on January 9, 2005.  The peace deal was signed by the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, ending the second civil war. Over 2 million people were killed in almost 50 years of fighting and many more made homeless. No date has been set for a referendum for the Abyei border region where there are significant oil deposits.

Christian World Service has funded emergency assistance and peacebuilding programmes over many decades in South Sudan. It also hosted two delegations of Sudanese church leaders who played a key part in the peac eprocess through their effective grassroots peace and reconciliation programme as well as international advocacy during many decades. 

CWS currently supports the Maridi Service Agency which has played a critical role in offering training and sporting opportunities for young people whose only experience was war.  The community radio programme has played an important role in voter education in an area where there is little infrastructure.