JUBA, Sudan - South SudanÂ’s polling centres closed their doors on Saturday after a week-long vote on independence from the north that could end a vicious cycle of civil war with the creation of the worldÂ’s newest state.Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, leading a mission observing the vote, said turnout could reach 90 percent and that it seemed likely the south had voted for independence.
| Jimmuah might finally have stumbled into doing something right... |
Final results are due before Feb. 15 but could be announced as early as the beginning of next month. “Of course there will be independence, we can smell it,” said Santino Riek.
The vote caps a 2005 peace agreement that ended decades of civil war between the mostly Muslim north and the south, where most follow Christianity and traditional beliefs. Northern officials have appeared increasingly resigned to losing the oil-producing south — which makes up a quarter of the country’s land — allaying fears conflict could reignite.
Carter, leading one of the largest observation missions, told reporters in Khartoum a handful of centres had reported 100 percent turnout and were already tallying the results.
“We already know that in the south there’s been about an average of 90 percent (participation) from the stations we’ve observed and I think they are representative,” Carter said.
In the few centres where he had seen counting under way, he said, the votes “were practically unanimous in favour of separation with only a few ballots to the contrary.
“It’s highly likely that the referendum result will be in favour of separation,” Carter said, but added that no one should prejudge the outcome.
At least 60 percent of registered voters needed to take part for the result to be binding. That point was reached just four days into the vote, according to the organising commission.
Carter also said the vote had probably met international standards and Khartoum said it would recognise the result, meaning all southerners must do now is wait to celebrate their independence day, likely on July 9.
| Unless the north finds a pretext, cancels the whole show, and restarts the civil war. |