Polling opens with euphoria in Sudan. 'I vote on behalf of the two million who died,' says one voter. Canon Trisha Wick in Sudan reports.

FIRST DAY OF VOTING IN SUDAN REFERENDUM - 9 JANUARY: Polling Stations were due to open at 8am but at 1am people were already queuing for what was to be a massive turnout of voters.

Most polling stations opened on time, commencing with a word of prayer. Organisation in the polling stations was excellent and people stood patiently in long queues for hours. The elderly, disabled and pregnant women on arrival were taken to the front of the queue.


Queues of voters at a polling station at Maridi in Southern Sudan (Photo: © Trisha Wick/CMS)

Women stood nearby giving out water and small doughnut balls. As people waited there was singing and dancing at this momentous time in Sudan's history.

As people left the polling stations many were jumping with joy and holding up their inked fingers. The voting went on very peacefully, amid tight security. Observers were coming and going from the centres all day.

One elderly man after voting said, "I have waited for more than 50 years for this day to choose freedom for the South. I came to vote on behalf of the two million people who died during the war, and for my grandchildren."

There were a couple of small incidents along the North/South border but seems they were unrelated to the referendum, and didn't disrupt voting. International observers were delighted with how the first day went - much better than we had dared to dream.

God is answering our prayers, but keep praying as there are still six more days of voting, and then a long wait for the final result.

CMS prayer resources for the Sudan referendum >>

Published: 12:56 10 January 2011  |  3207 views
Last updated: 10 January 2011
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