Southern Sudan Ambassador John Andruga Duku has expressed fear that if the country’s referendum fails to take place next year as scheduled the country may plunge in to tumoil.

The referendum, scheduled to take place on January 9, next year, is meant to determine whether the Southern Sudan Secedes or joins Northern Sudan.

“I am calling on the Sudanese to choose between war and peace. We the Southern Sudanese want peace,” said Amb. Andruga.

Addressing the press in Nairobi yesterday, Andruga questioned the African Union (AU) for not supporting the referendum in terms of provision of civic education, registration of voters, deployment of international monitors and observers on the ground. He also said that there is no political will by Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the United Nations (UN).

“Sudanese are not used to voting and they need civic education, but the AU is doing nothing in this area,” he said.

He further said that the IGAD should go beyond promising a peaceful referendum and stating the need for respect by the two parties and take actions which can make the referendum a success. Amb. Andruga called on media and the international community to state the fact that Khartoum is not at peace with Southern Sudan and the meeting by Sudan President Omar Al Bashir and Norther Sudan President Salva Kiir did not have any breakthrough.

“The National Congress Party which is under President Al Bashir has been putting obstacles and obstacles in Southern Sudan that’s why we have always been at war,” lamented Amb. Andruga.

He further stated that Southern Sudanese have no faith with the AU but with Kenya as a country because it is the chair of the sub-committee of IGAD and also a neighbor to Sudan. Amb. Andruga said that the South Sudanese are gearing to vote and break away from the larger Sudan in next year’s referendum.

Sudan got independence 54 years ago and has been on war since then for 39 years as a result of oppression and marginalization of Southern Sudanese.