Nations Divided

The Blue Springs Hotel on Thika Road in Nairobi, Kenya, is one voting center for the Sudan referendum. Men and women waited in separate lines to vote on Jan. 9.

A Sudanese woman holds her voting card as she waits her turn to vote in the Sudan referendum. The referendum will determine if Southern Sudan will become Africa’s 54th nation.

In Nairobi, Kenya, Sudanese wait their turn to vote in a referendum that will determine if Southern Sudan will split from the rest of the country to become an independent nation.

A young Sudanese woman with voting card in hand waits for her turn to vote at the Blue Springs Hotel on Thika Road in Nairobi, Kenya.

A poll worker in Kenya talks on his cell phone while standing next to a line of Sudanese women voters.

A young Sudanese man wears a shirt proclaiming support for Southern Sudan’s independence.

Sudanese voters burn the flag representing unity — a unified Sudan –outside the Blue Springs Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya.

Sudanese voters cheer and sing outside one of eight polling places in Kenya.

A Sudanese woman sings outside a Nairobi, Kenya, polling center on Jan. 9, the first day of voting.

A group of young men with the flag of Southern Sudan outside a polling center in Nairobi, Kenya. Voting dates are Jan. 9-15 in eight locations throughout Kenya.

Sudanese voters celebrate outside a polling center in Nairobi, Kenya, on the first morning of voting, Jan. 9.

Sudanese church women sing outside a polling center in Nairobi, Kenya, on the first morning of voting, Jan. 9.

A smiling Sudanese man celebrates the opportunity to vote in a referendum that will determine if Southern Sudan will split from the rest of Sudan to become Africa’s 54th nation.

A man carries the Southern Sudan flag while others wait their turn to vote outside the Blue Springs Hotel, a polling center in Nairobi, Kenya.

In Nairobi, Kenya, men wait in line for their turn to vote on the first morning of the Sudan referendum, Jan. 9. Men and women lined up separately to vote.

Long lines of Sudanese immigrants in Nairobi, Kenya, wait to vote on the first day of the Sudan referendum, Jan. 9.