Southern Sudanese returnees register to vote in the January 9th 2011 referendum at the John Garang memorial site in Juba.
JUBA, SOUTHERN SUDAN, 8th December 2010: Large crowds of Southern Sudanese at the John Garang memorial site in Juba register to vote in the January 9th 2011 referendum on the future of Southern Sudan. Today is the last day before registration officially closes. Benjamin Bolamathony, 32, former sergeant in the SPLA. Benjamin is a Dinka Muslim from Warapi state in Southern Sudan who is married to a Christian woman from Abyei. His painted long fingernails represent the the West who he hopes will help Southern Sudan, the new Southern Sudanese flag. His red thumbnail represents the blood shed during the civil wars. "Abyei has been ours since 1956. The Arab people were visitors to the South but instead of bringing gifts they bought guns to fight us. "Nothing will stop the referendum taking place on January 9th 2011 - if the northerners delay we will vote regardless. "Our people are being tortured and persecuted in the north but here they can live freely." Photo by Mike Goldwater / Christian Aid
Size: 5616px × 3744px
Location: Southern Sudan
Photo credit: © Mike Goldwater / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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