Sudan includes Halayeb, Abyei in 2015 electoral districts
September 7, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s National Elections Commission (NEC) announced on Sunday its intention to finalise the delineation of geographical constituencies for the 2015 elections by mid-September and revealed that the contested Abyei and Halayeb regions will be included.
Egypt has unilaterally assumed full control over Halayeb since the 90’s and routinely brushed aside repeated demands by Khartoum for international arbitration on its status. Cairo has included the region in all its elections held over the years.
Sudanese officials have generally avoided bringing up the dispute and instead keep reiterating that the two countries consider Halayeb an area of integration.
Abyei on the other hands is one of the thorny and contentious items in the negotiations between Khartoum and Juba despite the formation of a joint administration of the region until the case is resolved.
Abdullah Ahardlo, the NEC official in charge of geographical constituencies, told the Sudanese Media Center (SMC) website on Sunday that the commission will complete the demarcation of constituencies and then submit to the presidency and share it with political parties.
He added that appeals to challenge the demarcation will be allowed before it is finally adopted.
In a related issue, the interior minister Esmat Abdul Rahman said that police forces are ready to secure the upcoming elections as a constitutional requirement. He vowed to deter any attempt to distort or subvert the electoral process, accusing unspecified circles of seeking to induce sabotage in the community.
Sudan is preparing to hold presidential and parliamentary elections in April 2015, despite demands by major political forces that they be postponed to allow the ongoing national dialogue process to bear fruit. The government rejects this call saying it will lead to constitutional vacuum.
(ST)