In S. Sudan, 99 Percent Want to Secede

It’s hard to be the outsider with these numbers: Southern Sudan’s referendum commission found that almost everyone in the country wants to secede, with 99 percent of voters in the south voting in favor of it. Crowds cheered in the capital of Juba at the news. Turnout was also high: 99 percent of voters came out in the South. Northern Sudan was less enthusiastic, with 58 percent of voters choosing secession. "I'm very happy because today we have determined our destiny," said Anna Kaku, 42, who joined the spontaneous dancing that followed the announcement of the vote tally. "We fought for so many years, and now we have done this peacefully." Southern Sudan President Salva Kiir, speaking at the announcement ceremony, said, “We are not going to put down the flag of Sudan until July 9.”