KAMPALA - The East African Community (EAC) Referendum Observer Mission, headed by  EALA legislator, Abdul Karim Harelimana, is in South Sudan to assess and determine whether the referendum is conducted in accordance with Southern Sudan Referendum Act 2009.

South Sudanese started voting on Sunday in a week-long referendum which could see Africa’s largest country split into two autonomous states.

The fifteen- man mission will conduct its duties until January17.
The EALA legislators will also determine whether the final results of the referendum process as a whole reflect the wish of the people of Southern Sudan.

Other objectives of the mission include; assessing whether the referendum meets the benchmarks set out in the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, the AU Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa, the UN Declaration on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The Southern Sudan Referendum Commission (SSRC), the independent body tasked with organizing the referendum, has already dismissed claims that violence would erupt after the referendum.

In Kampala, SSRC has set up three referendum vote tallying centres at the International Organisation of Migration (IOM) offices in Kololo, Katwe and in Arua.

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