Experts advise South Sudan to delay next year elections
November 28, 2008 (JUBA) — A UN consultative team of experts advised the semi-autonomous southern Sudan government to postpone the next year general elections to November 2009 till the end of rainy season in order to avoid the logistical complications.
In accordance to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in January, the general elections should be held before July 2009, four year after the formation of the National Unity government in July 2005.
The elections in Sudan since its independence in January 1956 are always organized during the dry season between November and April to avoid the rainy season. The delay in the adoption of elections law or in the formation of electoral commission made it impossible to hold the elections before July.
Sudan elections Act was passed last July, while the electoral commission is appointed this week. The elections bill provides that elections should be organized 6 months after the appointment of electoral board members.
UNMIS Regional Coordinator for Southern Sudan, David Gressly, disclosed Friday that a UN group of experts recommended informally to southern Sudan government to delay the general elections to the end of next year or early 2010. He added that GoSS had asked the panel to assess the situation.
“We have provided our own guidance, proposing using the coming dry season more for a registration process, and then the following one for elections and the following one after that for the referendum,” Gressly said.
Many opposition parties, which suffer from the long years of dictatorship and lack of means, called for the delay of the elections to have sufficient to prepare it. Some SPLM officials spoke about the possible delay of elections but said it was personal point of view.
Currently only the National Congress Party say ready to hold the election during the fist part of 2009. However the possible indictment of President Al-Bashir could lead, the NCp also to call for the elections delay.
(ST)
Dinka Bush
Experts advise South Sudan to delay next year elections
No, we can not postpone this national activity due to seasonal factors. This is impossible because the previous national census was carried out despite these wethear conditions.
Whoever decides to advise our Juba government had a desire to take us back to square one and we will not accept this. Please fellow Sudanese, never allow foreigners to advise or decide for us.
WE SAY NO FOR ANY INTENTION THAT DELAYS CPA ELEMENTS.
J.James
Experts advise South Sudan to delay next year elections
Hi all:
The advisors has to remember that, there are some rules which are guiding this election as it is normally known in United States where elections are held on the 4th of November almost two months before the end of every president’s second term. For me, the key issue is not about seasonal problem but the implementation of the CPA itself. We in the south should not sing about the implementation of the CPA meanwhile we tend to edge away from the main stipulated principles of the CPA ourselves.
This will later on give arabs chance to dishonor certain CPA verses parralel to what we dishored. The government of southsudan must look behind its feet than welcoming any advice without further analysis.
Actually there are many sophisticated political issues that I don’t want to explain here for the sake of southsudan interest.
I hope all will turn out good.
God bless
The writer is the former north south war veteran who freed Logic from slavery. now Logic can cross Juba bridge at night.