Darfuris concluded voting on Wednesday in a referendum on whether to reunite the states of their arid western region, amid a boycott by rebel groups that accuse the government of rigging the vote to keep Darfur divided.
An official shows the ballot lock number during the last day of voting
for a referendum, at a registration centre at Al Fashir in North Darfur
April 13, 2016. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
Observers walk out from a voting centre during a referendum, at Al
Fashir in North Darfur April 13, 2016. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
A voter casts a ballot during a referendum, at a registration centre at
Al Fashir in North Darfur April 13, 2016. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin
Abdallah
An officer stands guard during a referendum, at a registration centre
at Al Fashir in North Darfur April 13, 2016. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin
Abdallah
Women wait at a registration centre during a referendum, at Al Fashir
in North Darfur April 13, 2016. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
A man walks to vote at a registration centre during a referendum, at Al
Fashir in North Darfur April 13, 2016. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin
Abdallah
A man votes during a referendum, at a registration centre at Al Fashir
in North Darfur April 13, 2016. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
A voter walks to cast his ballot during a referendum, at a registration
centre at Al Fashir in North Darfur April 13, 2016. REUTERS/Mohamed
Nureldin Abdallah
A woman carries a ballot during a referendum, at a registration centre
at Al Fashir in North Darfur April 13, 2016. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin
Abdallah
A voter casts a ballot during a referendum, at a registration centre at
Al Fashir in North Darfur April 13, 2016. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin
Abdallah
Officials stand near ballot boxes during a referendum, at a
registration centre at Al Fashir in North Darfur April 13, 2016.
REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
Officials lock the doors of registration centre on the last day of
voting for a referendum, at Al Fashir in North Darfur April 13, 2016.
REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
An official locks the doors of a registration centre on the last day of
voting for a referendum, at Al Fashir in North Darfur April 13, 2016.
REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
Officials look at ballots during the last day of voting for a
referendum, at a registration centre at Al Fashir in North Darfur April
13, 2016. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
EL FASHER, Sudan: Darfuris concluded voting on Wednesday in a
referendum on whether to reunite the states of their arid western
region, amid a boycott by rebel groups that accuse the government of
rigging the vote to keep Darfur divided.
The Sudanese government's decision to split Darfur into
three states in 1994 helped fuel discontent that eventually erupted into
fighting - rebels and many from the large Fur tribe said the break-up
allowed Khartoum to weaken and rule them.
Officials said turnout was high in the vote, which Sudan has presented as a major concession. Results are expected next week.
"According to the reports we've been getting, there has been
large turnout and widespread participation from voters," Darfur
referendum commission head Omar Ali Gemaa told Reuters.
The Darfur conflict began in 2003 when mainly non-Arab
tribes took up arms against the Arab-led government based in the capital
Khartoum, accusing it of discrimination.
According to the United Nations, some 300,000 people have
been killed in Darfur, 4.4 million people need aid and more than 2.5
million have been displaced.
Although violence has eased in recent years, the insurgency
continues and Khartoum has escalated attacks on rebels over the past
year. At least 130,000 people have fled fighting in the central Jebel
Marra area since mid-January alone.
The two main rebel groups fighting in Darfur, the Justice
and Equality Movement and the Sudan Liberation Army, have accused the
government of rigging the vote in its favour, to keep Darfur split into
several states.
They have called on their members to boycott the referendum
and have said a political settlement must come first, warning that this
week's vote will only lead to more violence.
Some who chose not to vote said the referendum would not address their immediate concerns.
"We're in need of food, water, and protection from
militias...those going hungry aren't concerned with whether Darfur is a
region or state," said 43-year-old Ahmed Adam, a resident of an
internally displaced persons (IDP) camp.
The United States this week expressed "serious concern" over
"inadequate registration" in the referendum. "If held under current
rules and conditions...it will undermine the peace process now under
way," a U.S. State Department statement said.
Others found reason to reunite Darfur into a single state.
"I support Darfur becoming a state and I voted for this,
because the state system offers better services in terms of education
and health," said 21-year-old university student Nadra al-Tahir.
Analysts and diplomats say the government opposes a unified
Darfur, concerned that this would give the rebels a platform to push for
independence - just as the south successfully did in 2011, taking with
it most of the country's oil reserves.
(Additional reporting by Ola Noureldin; Writing by Eric Knecht; Editing by Dominic Evans)
- Reuters
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