Over one thousand foreign traders operating in Eastern Equatoria state have left the region, fearing violence during the referendum period.
Kibizo Livingstone, the chairman of Eastern African Traders in Eastern Equatoria state, said foreign traders had gone home for the festive season but they decided to keep out of southern Sudan to wait for the outcome of the referendum, Emmanuel Radio reported.Mr. Kibizo who is also the human rights advocate for foreigners added that the Arab traders were scared by pictures pasted in the town with negative messages and left for the North.
Residents of Eastern Equatoria expressed disappointment over the departure of foreign traders, saying nobody would target them.
Eastern Equatoria governor, Louis Lobong Lojore, took a leading role to call for a conducive atmosphere for everybody to perform their duties during the referendum period.
He likened the referendum to an African traditional wedding saying everybody likes to avoid violence in such events and only snake bites cannot be prevented.
Mr. Lobong said his government deployed police officers all over the state to secure a peaceful referendum vote to achieve credibility and acceptance before the international community.