LOOKING AHEAD: A young Kenyan contemplates the future of his country in 2011 (LIU CHAN)

It's difficult to talk about Southern Sudan in 2011 without bringing up the historic referendum that will determine whether the south of Africa's largest country will secede from the rest of the country.

"The referendum in Southern Sudan is the most important event in the calendar of Africa after the (2010) World Cup (held in South Africa), because it has the consequence of introducing a new member state in Africa, and also has the consequence of returning this region back to war."

This is the view of James Andruga Duku, the chief coordinator of civic education in the Southern Sudan Referendum speaking on K24 TV, Kenya's first 24-hour news channel.

The whole region is worried and Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki has been wooing anyone who can listen to him to ensure that the January 9 referendum does not yield blood, bodies and ashes, but rather prosperity for a nation that is recovering from the effects of a long-running war.

Assurance of peace

Following the looming crisis, heads of state from Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Sudan met in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia in November to portend Sudan's future as the referendum beckoned.

The presidents met under the auspices of the regional econo-political authority, that is, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

Kenya's Kibaki, the chairperson of IGAD's subcommittee on Sudan, pooled his colleagues to get an assurance that Sudan's President Omar el Bashir and Southern Sudan President (also Bashir's First Vice President) Salva Kiir Mayardit will maintain peace regardless of how the polls went.

After the meeting, all the presidents gave Bashir and Kiir a thumbs-up that they were able to "lead the Sudan into a new era of peace, irrespective of whether the people of Southern Sudan choose unity or secession."

"The summit was particularly encouraged by the parties' commitment in achieving in the event of the secession of Southern Sudan, two viable States, living as peaceful and cooperative neighbors that maintain common security as well as a 'soft border' between the North and South that forges cooperation without disruption to the livelihoods of the people," read a joint communiqué released after the IGAD meeting.

With that, the region's fingers are crossed as the Southern Sudan chants, "We are going" their campaign slogan for secession from the North.