People of Sudan have made it, southern leader Kiir tells RFI
Southern Sudan's President Salva Kiir has reacted publicly for the first time after this month's independence referendum, telling RFI that "the people of Sudan have made it". Speaking on the sidelines of the African Union summit, Kiir said he was happy that the South seems to have voted overwhelmingly in favour of independence.
Issued on: Modified:
Reaction: South Sudan President Salva Kiir
Despite the favourable result for secession, Kiir said he was "still in mourning because we have lost so many people".
"I wish they were all alive."
Sudan’s future partition is high on the AU summit's agenda, with the first partial results of the referendum putting the vote for independence from the north at 99.57 percent.
These results do not include the votes in north Sudan and diaspora votes from eight countries.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said all parties "should engage immediately to address all the post-referendum issues," citing border demarcation between the north and south as well as issues of citizenship, security and the sharing of wealth.
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning
Subscribe