SPLM ready to run for Sudan’s 2009 elections

December 6, 2008 (JUBA) — The Southern Sudan ruling party reaffirmed its readiness to run for the first free elections since twenty years in the country in 2009 as it is agreed in the 2005 peace agreement.

In accordance to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in January 2005, the general elections should be held before July 2009, four year after the formation of the National Unity government in July 2005.

The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement has reiterated its firm stance on the hold of the general elections at the scheduled time in an atmosphere of freedom and integrity, said a press statement issued by the SPLM political bureau on Friday in Juba.

The SPLM higher political organ called for the need to extend the current session of the National Council until the revision of all the laws relating to democratic transition in the country particularly the national security law and the press and publications law.

It also called for the immediate cessation of press censorship, detention and torture.

Last month, 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

Earlier this month, the Presidential Assistant and NCP Vice-chairman Nafi Ali Nafi rejected any delay of the elections saying that some political forces hoping they can raise the issue of a forming a broad coalition government.

The Vice President of southern Sudan was the sole absent from the meeting due to his travel to Congo, the other 26 members also stressed on importance of the undertaken efforts to achieve peace in Uganda.

(ST)