It was a slow start to the first day of south Sudan's referendum for southerners living in South Darfur.

At the main polling center in Nyala, the regional capital, southerners were eager to vote. An old man using clutches walked in to choose, unity or "freedom".

He chose the latter.

By midday, voter turnout grew.

All indications coming from south Sudan suggest the vote for separation will prevail. But not all southerners in Nyala are choosing the same.

The Sultan of the African Dnika Ngok tribe in Nyala says he voted for unity.

"I built this school ... I was here since the 1960s .... I am not going anywhere. this is my home," said the tribesman.

"It's up tp people to choose but I've always campaigned for unity among my tribe."

But Darfur is not where you can gauge the real trend. There are less than 25,000 southerners registered to vote in Darfur's three states, according to the South Sudan Referendum Commission.

The biggest polling centre is in Nyala, where less than 3,500 people are registered. And there are 15 polling centres across the state of Southern Darfur.

In North Darfur, there are three polling stations and two in West Darfur.

But Darfur is watching the outcome very closely. The referendum is generating heated debates here. Feelings are mixed. Some call it a revival of an old dream of self-determination, while others re-enforce the call of unity.

But everyone that I spoke to, men women, old and young, agree on one thing: Darfur needs peace, development and justice.

The Darfur rebels will also be watching with a sharp eye. Because secession will probably make them insist on their demand made at the Doha Peace Talks of making Darfur one unified region state.

The fear for Darfur to be one state, many say, will be considered the first step towards a future call for self determination.

The government of course refused the proposal, instead it offered to hold a referendum in Darfur to choose their region to be one one or remain three states as it stands now.