Women Encouraged To Register In Malakal

23 November 2010 – (Malakal) – Heads of some registration centers in Malakal, Upper Nile state say women turnout has been low since the start of the exercise a week ago.

The head of Mudiriya registration center in Malakal Mr. Onyobong Autong told SRS on Monday in Malakal advised women to come out in large numbers to register.

[Onyobong Autong]: “Of course during the first three, four days the registration process was good. But when it reached the 7th day, the number of people started to reduce. Concerning the women, their percentage is little; I hope that it will rise in the coming days. Am advising the women not to waste this opportunity as they must participate because they have the 25 percent they must not sleep on it.”

Another official at a registration center in Malakal, Mr. Dak Joseph told SRS that the number of people registering is reducing by the day. She also complained that few women have registered.

[Dak Joseph]: “The first days, the reception was very very good. We registered about 233 people the first day. The second day we registered about 305, and in the third day we registered 205. In the past two days the numbers are reducing. Like for example yesterday we registered only 70 people and the day after we registered 90 people. Until now we registered about 1,300 people. The locals are really cooperative especially in the queues. The percentage of women in the registration centers is a bit weak. They should come forward and register before the registration is closed because the time may not be enough for us.”

The registration officially started on Monday 15th November and is expected to run through the 1st of December.