Counting of ballots has begun in an unofficial referedum held in the flashpoint region of Abyei to decide whether the oil-rich district should join Sudan or South Sudan.
Referendum organisers started the counting on Wednesday just as the Arabic-speaking Misseriya tribe, loyal to Sudan, vowed to hold their own referendum.
Sunday's referendum, which lasted three days, was unilaterally organised by the Ngok Dinka, a rival tribe closely connected to South Sudan.
Observers said the referedum, endorsed neither by Sudan nor south Sudan, was a "threat to peace".
The fate of Abyei is one of the most important and sensitive issues left unresolved since South Sudan became an independent state in 2011, ending two decades of civil war in Sudan.
"The laborious process of counting the number of ballots cast has begun," Tim Flatman, an independent observer in Abyei, said, calling the counting a "slow but very transparent process".
Clasped hands
A majority of 65,000 registered voters are believed to have cast their ballots in the exercise, which closed on Tuesday evening.
Ballot papers were marked with two symbols to choose from: a pair of clasped hands symbolising a vote to be part of Sudan, and a single hand if people want to join South Sudan.
Results were expected later on Wednesday or Thursday.
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, AU chief, said the vote was illegal and its organisers were risking starting a return to war between civil war foes in Juba and Khartoum.
"They pose a threat to peace in the Abyei area, and have the potential to trigger an unprecedented escalation on the ground ... with far-reaching consequences for the region as a whole," she said in a statement on Monday.
Sudan and South Sudan have previously clashed over Abyei, which is patrolled by some 4,000 Ethiopian-led UN peacekeepers.
Although organisers insisted the referendum was open to all Abeyi residents, Only the Ngok Dinka voted.
The Misseriya angrily said they will not recognise the results.
Abyei was meant to vote on whether to be part of Sudan or South Sudan in January 2011 - the same day Juba voted overwhelmingly to split from the north - as part of the 2005 peace deal which ended Sudan's two-decade long civil war.
That referendum was repeatedly stalled, and Sudanese troops stormed Abyei, the size of Lebanon, in May 2011 forcing over 100,000 to flee southwards, leaving a year later after international pressure.
Source http://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/counting-begins-abyei-referendum-121238595.html
Newer articles:
- South Sudan's Supreme Court rejects Pagan Amum petition against Salva Kiir - 31/10/2013 05:54
- South Sudan: One-Sided Vote in Disputed District - 31/10/2013 01:24
- South Sudan: Abyei 'Referendum' Raises Serious Issues - 30/10/2013 20:31
- South Sudan's 'Bullet-Bangle' Artists Make Art Out of War - 30/10/2013 18:31
- Saving sight in South Sudan - 30/10/2013 14:44
Older news items
- Flashpoint Abyei counts vote for Sudan or South Sudan future - 30/10/2013 09:36
- S. Sudan in Brief: EAC Customs, Visa Deal - Businesses Want Tax Reforms - 30/10/2013 01:30
- Contested Abyei wraps up vote to join Sudan or South Sudan - 29/10/2013 16:17
- South Sudan plans oil licence auction by year-end - 29/10/2013 12:52
- S. Sudan Plans Oil License Auction by Year's End - 29/10/2013 12:52
Latest news items (all categories):
- South Sudan needs ‘civic education’ before elections, says bishop - 16/01/2025 16:42
- South Sudan parties set to resume peace talks in Kenya - 16/01/2025 16:39
- Abandoned but not forgotten – the invisible crisis in South Sudan - 16/01/2025 16:35
- The SAF has committed barbaric atrocities against South Sudanese refugees in Wad Medani - 16/01/2025 16:27
- Syria 2025: The historical Syrian project: From revolution to a modern inclusive civil state - 16/01/2025 16:10
Random articles (all categories):
- 20 refugees arrive in Italy with university scholarships - 14/09/2020 11:07
- Fighting COVID-19 in South Sudan - 03/08/2020 16:45
- EU imposes global sanctions over rights abuses against women - 08/03/2023 02:16
- South Sudan women suggest sex strike to end war - 23/10/2014 16:57
- South Sudan has enough forex for six months despite conflict - minister - 10/02/2014 14:10
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 61882 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 22310 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 21505 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 19070 times
- Top 10 weakest currency exchange rates in Africa in 2023 - 19/07/2023 00:24 - Read 18874 times