Civil society groups have a major role to play in making Southern Sudanese aware of the process leading to the referendum, to ensure that the exercise is democratic.
This is the view of Ahmed Girshsb, Executive Director of the Institute for Development of Civil Society based in Khartoum.Mr. Girshsb told Good News Radio that civil society groups need to have a proactive role in informing the Southerners about the referendum process, including registration and voting, and the identification of what can trigger fighting and ways to prevent referendum violence.
He added that the civil society groups have to ensure if the vote is transparent and democratic.
The Institute for Development of Civil Society conducted a workshop on skills to prevent referendum violence in Rumbek.
Mr. Girshsb said the Institute is conducting referendum awareness workshops in Khartoum.