Voting for Southern Sudan Independent Began in Ethiopia

January 8, 2011 (ADDIS ABABA) - Southern Sudanese Referendum voting polls scheduled for January 9-15, 2011, has begun in three polling stations in Ethiopia.

Opiew Obang Kwot, SSRC Representative for OCV in Ethiopia, recruiting and training volunteers in Fugnido Refugee Camp

South Sudan Referendum Commission representative for OCV in Ethiopia, Mr. Opiew Obang Kwot, told the press on Saturday that the natives of Southern Sudanese who reside in Ethiopia would cast their votes in Addis Ababa City Administration, Gambella, and Benishngul-Gumuz Regions.

Those who are living in Addis Ababa City will vote in Bole Sub-city while those who are living in Gambella and Benishangul-Gumuz Regions would cast their votes in Fugnido and Sherkole Refugee Camps respectively.

Southern Sudanese who have been registered to vote are eager to cast their votes because this is what they have been fighting for, and it is widely believed that all Southern Sudanese will vote for separation.

Ethiopia is one of the eight countries where OCV for the 2011 Southern Sudanese Referendum is taking place. The counting of voting in Ethiopia will take place in the evening of 15th and 16th January 2011, which will be followed by the announcement of the preliminary results for the Ethiopia Referendum Centers.