South Sudan: Unity State's voter registrars unable to reach people in remote areas

We have problems with people who are refusing to be registered, like the people in the cattle camps. They keep asking us why they should register. Some are saying that they won’t register unless we register their bull...

From SRS - Sudan Radio Service December 4, 2009:

(Bentiu, S. Sudan) - The voter registration committee in Unity state said they are not able to reach people in remote areas because of the conditions of the roads.

A registrar in Biey payam, Michael Nhial Kach, told SRS on Thursday that it is hard for them to reach the cattle camps where most people have taken their cattle for pasture. Another challenge they are facing is that people have not understood the significance of registering to vote.

[Michael Nhial Kach]: “Our problem is that there are no roads and we are always going to places which take us two or three days to get to on foot. But the security situation is good because the police are escorting us. Secondly, we have problems with people who are refusing to be registered, like the people in the cattle camps. They keep asking us why they should register. Some are saying that they won’t register unless we register their bull. It always takes time for us to explain and convince them.”

Nhial added that despite the challenges they are working hard to get all the people in the area to register before the registration process ends on December 7.