Pretoria - The South African government has given its backing to the referendum that will be held in South Sudan on Sunday.
The people of South Sudan will vote in the referendum to decide whether they will remain part of a United Sudan or form a new independent state.
"Given the history of the Sudan, we are convinced that the governments and the people of that country want to close the chapter of war and conflict, and desire peace and development. South Africa will continue to lend its support to these efforts," Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, said.
South Africa's support for the referendum also comes against the backdrop of the country's role as chair of the African Union Committee on Post Conflict Reconstruction and Development in Sudan, the Department for International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) said.
South Africa has also deployed a 35-member observer team, consisting of members of parliament, government officials and representatives from civil society, to the region.
This observer team will assist the African Union Observer Mission in its efforts to ensure that the environment is conducive for a credible, free and fair referendum.
The 9 January referendum is in accordance with the Comprehensive Peace Plan (CPA) signed in 2005.
"The CPA is the foundation of a durable political solution to the conflict between the Government of Sudan and the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement, which is arguably the longest armed conflict on the African continent," DIRCO said.
South Africa and Sudan enjoy cordial relations and a number of SA government departments are currently involved in capacity building projects on education, public service, policing and justice and constitutional development to assist Sudan.
