Southern Sudan Prepares For Historic Independence Vote (PHOTOS)

Whether or not south Sudan will secede from the north remains to be seen, but as these photos attest, the country's preparations for what will undoubtedly be a historic Jan. 9 vote are well underway.

As Reuters is reporting, Sudanese leaders must still resolve a daunting range of practical issues if they are to prevent a return to the civil war violence that characterized the nation prior to a 2005 peace deal. Just how the countries will begin to disentangle their economies, resources and people is far from clear -- even the name of the predicted new south Sudan nation has yet to be decided.

Regardless of the risks, enthusiasm in the nation is quite high, with supporters staging parades and other lively demonstrations throughout the city of Juba. As the Associated Press reports, nearly 4 million people have registered to vote and many will have to walk hours through bush -- in some areas still peppered with land mines -- to reach a polling station.

View photos of Sudan as it prepares for the vote here:

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The President of the Republic of Sudan Omar al-Bashir, visited Juba just five days before southerners are set to vote in a referendum that could see southern Sudan secede from the north to form the world's newest country.

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The President of the Republic of Sudan Omar al-Bashir, visited Juba just five days before southerners are set to vote in a referendum that could see southern Sudan secede from the north to form the world's newest country.

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ThirdSection said on 9 Sunday 2011 pm31 12:35 pm: I was hoping for "Earl".

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Comments

[Katanga1960]

09:45 AM on 01/10/2011

Good luck to South Sudan and hope they call the new nation Nubia. How I wish it was Katanga (forced to be part of the Democratic Republic of Congo) being given this opportunit­y that all my forefather­s dreamed about!

[GlennWatson]

08:37 AM on 01/10/2011

Congratulations Geroge W. Bush on your succeful policy in Sudan.

[u1195]

03:53 AM on 01/10/2011

The Political Division of Africa through the colonial powers can not be the final lines drawn!
Each african nation has to individually, following the example of southern sudan and others draw a new political line of division along ethnic,cultural,religious etc lines.History has taught us a sandwich of different peoples to one nation does not work.
Imagine Europe being one country with the headquarters in paris and the president is a frenchman,with all other peoples like germans,or polish people etc being on the disadvantage.
Such a thing could never have existed in europe,and so no doubt why should europeans impose it on africa? The division of africa as the europeans colonial powers did it is outdated even at the time it was done,believe me!!
My suggestion: Each tribe in africa with its unique language should become a country and govern itself.

[Simon Nayeh]

03:12 AM on 01/10/2011

hi

[jsgaetano]

08:00 PM on 01/09/2011

Republicans and their Saudi owners are already drawing up plans on invading them.

[Planet Caravan]

05:28 PM on 01/09/2011

Hopefully the south can live in peace and freedom safe from the brutal Islamist ideology that has brought so much misery down upon them.

[Abdi S]

06:29 PM on 01/09/2011

What do Islam have to do with this conflict? Your comment is ignorant,and did you know the south have a lot of black Sudanese that are Muslims yet they suffer the same fate as the Christians in the south? This is more like ethnic violence conflict but religion is not part of the problem so far.

[krs41]

11:35 PM on 01/09/2011

the islamic north is killing the christian south...accept the truth

[ThirdSection]

01:25 AM on 01/10/2011

Actually, al-Bashir's regime has been running the country under an Islamic legal code since 1989, so Islam has a lot to do with it in that the scoundrels have been using Islam to justify their atrocities.

This doesn't mean that Islam caused the atrocities, much like Christianity didn't cause Jonestown.

[Abdi S]

05:26 PM on 01/09/2011

What does this mean for Sudan future? I am having the feeling Sudan should be one nation instead of south or north but if it gives them peace then I am supporting it.

[rabidbadger]

06:15 PM on 01/09/2011

Why would they be one nation? The north and south of almost nothing on common culturally, economically, or even geographically excepting proximity. One thing to remember about a lot of countries in Africa and the Middle East is that borders were rather hastily and arbitrarily drawn from European colonies that were suddenly declared sovereign nation states in the most modern sense of the word. Many areas had no tradition of modern government outside of colonialism. Even the most basic functions of government prove to be daunting challenges, much less the complicated politics of reconciling areas and peoples with difference interests and cultures. Really this should have happened more frequently while the new nations figured out what areas belong together.

[myownvoice]

04:56 PM on 01/09/2011

peaceful secession.....no more bloodshed

[pierre F Lherisson]

04:32 PM on 01/09/2011

History repeats itself but not necessarily in the same fashion. We have seen a similar incident in Colombia during the Thousand days war 1899-1902 during which Panama that was a Department of Colombia seceded from Colombia. Now lets see which countries will be eager to recognize this new country and anxious to offermassive military assistance.
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2030.htm
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2374347

[ThirdSection]

12:47 PM on 01/09/2011

Hopefully, this means the end of Omar al-Bashir's political career, as his North Sudanese "base" slays him at the polls for losing the damn country...

...and then the extradition.

[messy]

04:04 PM on 01/09/2011

You really think that they're going to let them secede? There's going to be a civil war because the south will count the votes one way and the north another. You see what they did in Darfur, then they'll do it again.

They'll be no extradition, because the guys who will overthrow him are worse than he is and he'll be dead.

[ThirdSection]

04:08 PM on 01/09/2011

There already was a civil war. Part of the peace deal was today's referendum.

[canchita]

10:11 PM on 01/09/2011

I pray that today's elections bring a peaceful end to this process, though I'm not terribly optimistic tht there won't be bloodshed. Do you think he'll ever be tried in the Hague? It amazes me that he is still in power.

[ThirdSection]

12:52 AM on 01/10/2011

These roguish strongmen rely upon the elite classes of their countries to remain in power, and al-Bashir is no different in that regard. I have a hunch that very important people of Khartoum are none too pleased with the guy who lost half the country. There will probably be a coup, and the resulting new regime will sell al-Bashir to the Hague for a measure of international legitimacy and the financial rewards that come with it.

[ThirdSection]

12:39 PM on 01/09/2011

I greet this development with cautious enthusiasm, as it's probably well overdue that Africans have the opportunity to draw their own boundaries (as opposed to the ones the old colonial powers stuck them with). However, the re-drawing of borders is rarely a peaceful affair--Let's hope for more "Velvet Divorces" and fewer Yugoslavias.

[Tony581]

09:27 PM on 01/09/2011

Do you really think a tiny poor and desperate country in the South of Sudan has a chance of success? I guess the people back West will feel good about the situation if secession occurs. I just worry that there are too many little, poor countries in Africa and none of them really has any probability of achieving economic stability over the next 100 years.

[ThirdSection]

01:00 AM on 01/10/2011

Southern Sudan has two things going for it, well-watered fertile soil and the oil beneath it. If the people of Southern Sudan are as excited about their new country as they seem to be, and if they can achieve and maintain political stability, I don't see why they can't succeed.

After 25 years of brutal warfare, these aren't soft people. If something needs to be built, it will be built.

[messy]

10:04 AM on 01/10/2011

Tiny? look at a map.

[Savannah Logsdon]

11:54 AM on 01/09/2011

While I support the possibility of the separation as a solution to Sudanese conflict with what information I know- and I don't know all of it- I have one thing to say to commenters:

Shame on those of you who are using this as an excuse to condemn Islam as a faith. Do not paint with the same brush all of a diverse faith. Shame on the Islamophobia I'm seeing here!

[ThirdSection]

12:33 PM on 01/09/2011

Hear, hear!

[Jeremy Urbach]

02:04 PM on 01/09/2011

Do you think the concept of Islamic orthodoxy when incorporated into the state structure of Sudan is not open for criticism? There is real racism in the Sudan when it comes to the way Arabs are treated as opposed to non-arab blacks, and Islam itself serves as a justification for that racism in the treatment of minorities. Its not Islamophobia to bring up racism that doesnt involve white people, though i understand its not PC to do so....

[azander12]

05:26 PM on 01/09/2011

Although the issue is more racism rather than Islamic radicalism. The JEM in Darfur is an Islamist movement, but they are fighting the Khartoum government MORE than the SPLM in the south is. In the end its about Arab herders versus Black farmers, and the broader political ideologies that are drawn into the mix to justify the warfare over scare resources.

[Hareega]

11:49 AM on 01/09/2011

It's very disheartening to see Sudan being split into 2 and maybe later 3 countries. It could have been a world power and its food supply can feed the majority of Africa. I don't blame the South, they had no other choice after 26 years of oppression.

[Staxx]

10:02 PM on 01/10/2011

World power? Feed the majority of Africa? I wonder what you've been smoking, stay away from the bango please - it seem like you can't handle it.

[Hareega]

02:44 AM on 01/11/2011

I've been some a legal hookah thanks for asking. Yes the majority of Africa. A fact. World power, certainly with its enormous water and agricultural supply.

[livnletliv]

11:43 AM on 01/09/2011

To those who have fuzzy warm feelings about Non Islamic group in a Muslem country. It's not about the west standing for what's right! it's a bout the West supporting it's interests, just like the creation of Kusova was a western interest by supporting a non muslem minority in a non muslem country. President Basheer was told they'll forgive him for Darfur if he respected the referendum results! so much for genuine care for human rights. I for one would rather see him face court for human rights violations than see Sudan dismembered. As for those who think southern sudan will be better off in human rights standards, we'll see about that!

[mono]

11:13 AM on 01/09/2011

Now, very soon South Sudan will be a flourishing country and the North Sudan will still be stuck in all-thing-considered-Islam and savagery.

[Gutts]

12:34 PM on 01/09/2011

you mean like korea?

[messy]

04:07 PM on 01/09/2011

North Korea is NOT Islamic. It's Juche.

[krs41]

11:37 PM on 01/09/2011

yes. south korea is a wonderful free country. north korea isa brutal socialistic country