Sudan’s elections without Darfur people
Elections without Participation of the Darfur People is a recipe for disaster
By Mahmoud A. Suleiman
February 24, 2008 — News papers reported on Wednesday February 20, 2008 quoting a Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party hard-core security element, Kamal Obeid, State Minister for Information, as saying that General Elections in the country can be run without the participation of Darfuris due to the political instability in the region and that Darfur crisis is not linked to the general elections. Although there is no reliable census number in Sudan, based on credible sources, the population of Darfur was around 6 to 7 million. The US Agency for International Development uses a figure of 6.5 million. The real motives behind the NCP’s decision to go ahead with the General Elections irrespective of serious consequences for the people of Sudan are not secret. The power-hungry NCP feels confident, in such situation, to win the Elections and beat the opposition parties hands down. This is because the NCP regime employed scorched-earth campaign against the people of Darfur and settled the Arabs it imported from Chad, Niger, Mauritania and other neighbouring countries on the lands of displaced Darfuris, as its potential constituent voters during the forthcoming general Elections. Tens of thousands of non-Darfuri Arab groups have arrived in Darfur in recent months, with many ending up on lands belonging to displaced Darfuris. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that as many as 30,000 people have left Chad for Darfur in a steady flow since early 2007. Sudanese identity documents, as well as other evidence of a planned scheme to permanently settle Arabs from outside the Sudan on the lands of displaced Darfuris is readily obtainable.
If the Presidential and parliamentary General Elections mandated in the CPA and scheduled before July 2009 after the end of a transitional period are held in the current prevailing conditions in Darfur, without the participation of the people of Darfur region and while the National Congress Party (NCP) regime’s reign of terror continues, Sudan will probably be heading towards a situation akin to that happened in the Nigerian Elections which were sullied by Chaos or similar to the recent post election violence in Kenya that had erupted as a result of controversial elections on December the 27th 2007 and has been devastating the western region of that country. At least 250,000 people have been displaced and up to 600 people have been killed during the weeks of the riots. This is more likely to happen in Sudan in the wake of the emergence of new political forces especially the armed rebel movements in Darfur, Kordofan, Eastern Sudan and others parts of the country. A call for collective agreement on the terms and conditions for transparent, fair and free elections is highly desired to avoid the nation plunging into an abyss of violence and lawlessness, an accident waiting to happen. Moreover, a credible Independent Electoral Commission needs to be in place prior to holding nationwide General Elections. The draft bill on the electoral law was being discussed in February 2008; differences remained over the proportion between the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP), plurality voting, or relative majority seats and proportional seats, over the amount of seats reserved for women, and over how many votes smaller parties would have to win in order to gain entry into parliament. The population census process which is necessary for the election to be held, has been, sadly, marred by chaos and delays. Initially planned to be held in July 2007 was postponed to 15 November 2007 onwards and then delayed to be held as from 2nd February 2008 onwards due to funding issues. Now it has been postponed again for the period 15–30 April 2008! In a worst case scenario, the draft bill on the electoral law was being discussed in February 2008; differences remained over the proportion between the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP), plurality voting, or relative majority seats and proportional seats, over the amount of seats reserved for women, and over how many votes smaller parties would have to win in order to gain entry into parliament.
The above major political blunders are a part and parcel of the perpetual failures of the hegemonic NCP regime elements who lead this unfortunate great nation to its demise. Political critics say that it is high time, if not over due, for the regime to depart. The demise of the ruling National Congress Party nightmare regime in Khartoum would be a blessing for the people of the Sudan and for sure nobody is going to shed tears. The countdown to the elections has already begun. Similarly, the end to the days in power of the NCP bunch of self-righteous, egomaniacal, power-hungry individuals wrapped in a layer of morally bankrupt religious fanaticism are eminent. Will the elements in the NIF/NCP reflect for a minute for goodness’ sake and be morally right and leave? As the parable goes “the termites tested the stone?????? ?????? ?????”, let the NIF/NCP attempt to implement their doomed plan. One is certain that the Darfur Rebel groups, we know for sure and without doubt, will not allow General Elections to be held in the Darfur Region or Kordofan in the manner the NCP regime has planned. The observers believe that it is incumbent upon the Sudanese Political Forces, the Civil Society Organisations and the Sudanese public to remain steadfastly opposed to the contemptuous political conspiracies of the National Congress Party government and confront it unabatedly. The role of the First Vice President Salva Kiir Maryadit of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLM/SPLA), the partner in the Government of National Unity (GNU), in this fateful matter of (To be or Not to Be) is paramount to avoid taking up arms against a potential “sea of troubles”. General Elections held in these controversial settings will pose risk of attacks against the Electoral Commission and associates in reprisal for their regarding the political process with disdain and for continuing to maintain an intransigent position contemptuously. We share and commend the sentiments expressed and reported in the African Path Anyuak Media by the Sudan’s First Vice President and President of the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS), Gen. Salva Kiir Maryadit in which he said “next election should learn from Kenya’s lesson” and he added: “We have to conduct a free and fair election in order to not repeat the Kenyan experience in our country.” However, the people of Sudan need to take pre-emptive measures against the NCP regime’s General Elections conspiracy and should not wait to see, “Actions Speak louder”!
Dr. Mahmoud A. Suleiman is the Deputy Chairman of the General Congress for Justice and Equality Movement (JEM). He can be reached at [email protected]