The Elders called on Sudanese leaders and the international community to ensure that the referendum takes place in a peaceful, timely and credible manner, and that the results of the vote are respected.
The Elders Ð a group of eminent global leaders brought together by Nelson Mandela Ð say that the will of the people must be respected during and after the referendum in January 2011.
The Elders urged Sudanese leaders to come to an agreement regarding the citizenship of Southern Sudanese in the North, in the event of secession.
They added that the international community must put measures in place to monitor and protect civilians and to engage with all the parties to ensure that violence does not occur.
The Elders emphasize the need for a credible and sustainable solution to the deadlock over the referendum for self-determination of the Abyei Area
Among the Elders is Desmond Tutu who chairs the organization, former US president Jimmy Carter, Mandela’s wife Graca Machel, Koffi Anan, Mary Robinson, former Irish president, and Lakhdar Brahida, former Algerian former minister.