The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) sent observers to monitor the southern Sudan referendum.
IGAD is the Eastern African regional body that facilitated the Sudan 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended more than two decades of civil war.IGAD representative Mohamed Abdourahman Abdoul told the attendance at the official launch of the polling exercise in Juba yesterday that 41 IGAD observers would be deployed in various polling centres across southern Sudan.
Mr. Abdourahman explained that the observers were dispersed to provide positive and impartial feed back and contribute to the development of democracy in the IGAD region.
Mr. Abdourahman revealed that IGAD will continue to support the people of southern Sudan whatever the referendum result may be.
He expressed hope that the process of the referendum will be handled in a manner that makes it a showpiece and will ensure peace, stability and the aspirations of the people of south Sudan.
Mr. Abdourahman was speaking yesterday in Juba at the official launch of the polling exercise in Central Equatoria state.