Voting for freedom in Southern Sudan

Two days before Thanksgiving, the Government of Southern Sudan's Mission to the United States (GOSS) invited me to Old Town Alexandria to observe voter registration for Southern Sudan's independence referendum on January 9th. As I made my final GPS-instructed turn, I spotted orange signs in English and Arabic that read in bold letters "Referendum Centre." On a frigid day in a suburb of Washington, D.C., southern Sudanese were registering to vote for independence. After working with GOSS for a few months in preparation of the vote, it was moving to be part of such a joyous and monumental occasion.

Over the course of history, independence is inextricably linked to war. Although southern Sudanese are "voting" to establish their own country, much blood has been shed on their path to freedom. Sudan, the largest country in Africa, gained independence from the United Kingdom and Egypt in 1956. A year before the formal transfer of authority, the first of two civil wars erupted. To date, an estimated two million Sudanese have died because of fighting.

You may know Sudan because of the war in Darfur and subsequent indictment of President Omar al-Bashir on genocide charges by the International Criminal Court. Sudan has been sanctioned by the United States and included on the "state sponsors of terrorism" list. . . .

. . . . The American Right plays a key role in Southern Sudan's independence movement. In an interesting interview with liberal HBO host Bill Maher, actor and activist George Clooney said, "this movement, the Sudanese movement, Darfur, the north-south agreement were really truly embraced by the Right even more so than the Left." Clooney continued, "And I found that over the years on this particular issue specifically, and a lot of the African countries, you can get a lot of conservative help . . . Believe me, this is a very big issue on the Right as well."

I have posted two videos from my visits to the referendum center in Virginia. I asked everyone I interviewed two questions: (1) why is this referendum important to you and (2) why should the people of the United States pay attention?

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Please note that in discussing political issues, candidates positions and political party statements, Jordan Sekulow is offering analysis in his individual capacity as lawyer and commentator. He is not speaking on behalf of the American Center for Law & Justice. The ACLJ does not endorse or oppose candidates for public office. Nothing contained in this article should be construed as the position of the ACLJ.