Citizens in Eastern Equatoria voted overwhelmingly for separation in the Southern Sudan referendum.
The head of the State High Referendum Committee Allan Lochul announced the preliminary state results on Saturday, saying about 99.5 per cent of voters chose separation.Only zero point zero five per cent of the people opted for unity.
State governor Louis Lobong Lojore termed the vote result an achievement of a great and historic state.
The governor said Eastern Equatoria state will be remembered in history for shooting the first bullet in South Sudan’s liberation struggle way back in 1955 during the Torit uprising.
He said the road to the Promised Land was long, difficult and full of challenges.
Mr. Lobong added that the votes for separation honoured those who died in the liberation struggle who will never be forgotten.
He described South Sudan as a county that honours human rights, cultural pluralism, and ethnicity, and upholds and respects religious diversity and democracy.
Lafon/Lopa County voted hundred per cent for separation, Ikwoto County scored the largest turnout of voters and 107 voted for unity in Magwi.