Agenzia Fides REPORT – The definitive results on the referendum held 9-15 January on Southern Sudan's independence were published yesterday, 7 February. 98,83% of voters said yes to independence. Preliminary results were published on 30 January and the same victory percentages were given then. The announcement was received with joy by a festive crowd in Juba, the capital of the new State, which will be officially created in July.
Southern Sudan, however, needs to address various problems, among which the violences perpetrated by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). Bishop Edward Hiiboro Kussala of Tombura-Yambio, who yesterday issued Fides with an alarm about the presence of these Ugandan guerillas in his diocese (see Fides 7/2/2011), published a statement in which he calls for an end to the violence perpetrated by the LRA that has killed over 2,700, abducted over 3,500 others, displaced at least 500 thousand people and made life very difficult in Western Equatoria.
The B proposes a four-point strategy to counter LRA’s threat: increase protection of civilians; arrest of Joseph Kony and senior commanders; promote the defection of LRA fighters; and increase humanitarian access and provide continued relief to affected communities together with a negotiated peace settlement.
Southern Sudan, however, needs to address various problems, among which the violences perpetrated by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). Bishop Edward Hiiboro Kussala of Tombura-Yambio, who yesterday issued Fides with an alarm about the presence of these Ugandan guerillas in his diocese (see Fides 7/2/2011), published a statement in which he calls for an end to the violence perpetrated by the LRA that has killed over 2,700, abducted over 3,500 others, displaced at least 500 thousand people and made life very difficult in Western Equatoria.
The B proposes a four-point strategy to counter LRA’s threat: increase protection of civilians; arrest of Joseph Kony and senior commanders; promote the defection of LRA fighters; and increase humanitarian access and provide continued relief to affected communities together with a negotiated peace settlement.
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