A referendum on the permanent status of the Darfur within Sudan was held on 11–13 April 2016. It was originally scheduled for 1 and 2 July 2011, but was delayed. The Darfur Peace Agreement signed in May 2006 included the provision for such a referendum to be held throughout the Darfur region to determine the permanent status of that region within the Republic of Sudan. The agreement also established a Darfur Regional Authority to help administer the region in the lead-up to the referendum. The referendum was subject to a boycott, led to student protests and accusations of vote-rigging. The results were announced on 23 April 2016 and were in favour of the retention of the status quo. Background The Darfur Peace Agreement stated that the referendum should be held twelve months after the national elections had taken place in Darfur, and no later than July 2010. The referendum did not take place at that time. In December 2010, the secretary general of the Transitional Darfur Regional Authority, Khalid Billal Ahmad, stated that the people of Darfur will "make their final decision" in 2011 implying that the referendum will be held in that year. The Chairperson of the authority also stated his commitment to the referendum in February 2011. On 3 March 2011, it was stated that the referendum would be held within three months. On 9 March 2011, it was announced that two more states would be established in Darfur: Central Darfur around Zalingei and East Darfur around Ed Daein. The presidential decree making this official has not yet been released; the rebel groups protested and stated that this was a bid to further divide Darfur's influence. It was also announced that this change would not affect the planned referendum. The cabinet of Sudan endorsed the plan for additional states in Darfur on 5 May 2011. A presidential decree was released authorizing the preparations for the referendum; the decree mentioned only three states in Darfur, indicating that the creation of Central and Eastern Darfur had been rescinded. A date was not mentioned in the decree. In January 2012 two additional states, Central Darfur and Eastern Darfur states were established and governorships reshuffled. In June 2011, the Government of Sudan stated that if a new Darfur Peace Agreement was adopted prior to July 2011, then preparations for the referendum would be stopped as the new agreement would supersede the previous