S. Sudan: IRI disputes report on political party polls

June 4, 2013 (JUBA) – The International Republican Institute (IRI) has dismissed as “inaccurate” a media report alleging its recently conducted opinion poll showed 89% of citizens in the Greater Bahr el Ghazal region preferred a new political party in South Sudan.

The report, which leaked to Sudan Tribune, was based on results from an opinion poll, whose findings are yet to be publicly announced. Sudan Tribune, in its report, clearly indicated they were unpublished results.

However, IRI, in a statement issued Tuesday, described the report as “misleading”, but acknowledged it had conducted opinions polls, whose findings, it clarified, were still incomplete.

“The article claims to produce findings from a recent public opinion poll conducted by IRI in South Sudan, but the poll has not been completed so any information about the poll cannot be verified and cannot be known,” the statement reads in part.

“Any source claiming otherwise is simply making up information”, it added, while assuring the public that it is in the process of seeking additional clarification on the matter. IRI does not, however, query the authenticity of whatever was published.

Operational in South Sudan since 2004, the Institute works to promote a viable peace for the South Sudanese people through grant funding from the U.S. Government.

Since 2011, IRI has conducted two public opinion polls in the new nation; the first on national polls done in September 2011 and another on regional polls in the Greater Equatoria region, which was conducted between May-June last year.

Data from its most recent national poll, which was carried out last month, are currently being analysed, with its findings expected to be publicly released when work is finalised.

(ST)