Scenes from the streets of Juba, capital of what will soon be the world’s 193rd state.
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South Sudan
Motivational Speaking
“Every vote counts,” announce billboards around Juba, “if you have registered, make sure you go to vote”. There is no doubt in Southern Sudan that of those that vote, many more than the required 50% + 1 will opt for secession. There was some concern surrounding a clause in the peace agreement stipulating that over 60% of those registered must turn-out, but by mid-week, the ruling party had announced that the turn-out had already been reached.
For members of “My Referendum for Freedom”, an organisation originally started by a member of the south Sudan diaspora in Australia, getting people to vote meant much more than just a clause in an agreement: this was their chance to determine their future.
During the week of voting, these volunteers climbed into the back of pick-up trucks, armed with a microphone and loudspeakers, exclaiming to people that if they are registered, they should exercise their right to vote, and voice their opinion. They organised buses to transport people from remote communities to polling stations, believing that a truly democratic vote should not be influenced by people’s means to pay for long journeys.
“I got here at two o’clock in the morning” said one man, clutching his voter registration card at dawn outside the University of Juba. He had been to vote the previous day, but the queues were too long, full of southern Sudanese voters eager to imprint their finger next to a symbol representing secession. When the doors opened on this second day of voting, lines of people waited to make their mark.
The scene at the end of the day, however, was somewhat different. In Southern Sudan’s capital, the staff at the voting centres sat under the shade of mango trees, attending to a trickle of voters. It seemed as if Juba had voted in the first day and a half.
A Historic Day’s End
After an immense day of voting in Juba, filled with people celebrating, the polling stations came to close. It was scheduled for 5pm, but with rules stipulating that all those in the queue should have the opportunity to cast their ballot, many centres were still inking voters’ fingers much later.
Many believed that vast numbers of people did not realise that they could vote throughout the entire week — the 9th of January had become so symbolic in the talk of freedom. Or perhaps people’s enthusiasm meant that the citizens of southern Sudan were so keen to participate on this first day that they would patiently pass their day queuing under the unforgiving Sudanese sun.
In any case, when the ballot boxes were closed with their numbered seals, the translucent plastic urns were full of folded slips bearing the stamp of the Southern Sudan Referendum Commission.
For us, it means a long night of editing & filing images, rehydrating & somehow digesting what we have witnessed this nation undertake today. This is history.
The media spot-light was on Juba, the soon-to-be capital of a new state if the banners announcing secession are to be believed. And with it came former presidents, high-profile, media-savvy campaigners and a film-star (who ended up with malaria).
A few journalist friends were embroiled with PR representatives, finding out if, and when, Jimmy Carter was visiting the polling stations as part of his role as electoral observer. If, and when, Mr. Clooney would be holding a press conference (NGO workers hanging around his hotel, hoping to get a tipsy snap with him).