Election monitors in Sudan are predicting residents of Southern Sudan have overwhelmingly voted to break off from the north in a week-long referendum. The chair of the Southern Sudan Referendum Commission, Mohamed Ibrahim Khalil, praised the vote.

Mohamed Ibrahim Khalil: “It was a very orderly process, very peaceful, very civilized. As a matter of fact, as a matter of fact, I’ve watched a number of elections in this country, and I think this has been the most peaceful, the most orderly and the quietest. And I think it is really a great achievement.”

If approved, Southern Sudan’s seccession from Sudan would take effect in July.