Opposition leader casts doubt over Sudan’s elections date
June 23, 2007 (KHARTOUM) —The opposition Umma National Party led by Sadiq al-Mahadi has said it is impossible for the government of national unity to hold the general elections due to the repatriation of southerners and Darfur crisis.
While addressing a packed political rally in Gadarif town, in eastern Sudan last Thursday, Al-Mahadi asserted that it was impossible to hold the elections on the agreed time as stipulated by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in January 2005.
He attributed this to the facts that the majority of southern Sudanese are still living outside the southern region and that two third of the residents of Darfur had either become internally displaced or vagrants, in addition to the non-existence of security and stability and the emergence of what he termed as the rebellion of provinces.
According to the CPA, presidential and legislative elections should be organized in the country in 2008, the two major members of the national unity government agreed to adjourn it to 2009 due to the delay of general census.
the census, planned for November this year, but continuing logistical and political complications may lead to further delays.
Al-Mahadi also considered the statements regarding the hybrid operation in Darfur and its African leadership as mere deception, asserting that the leadership would be for the UN.
He said that the AU was part of the UN and not the other way around.
He further reiterated his party’s supportive stance for these troops. He said that his party did not decide to agree on these troops out of nothing or affection to them but because the AU troops had declared their failure to continue with operation.
(ST)