Sudan’s census data to be released in February 09
December 7, 2008 (KHARTOUM) – The results of the fifth Sudan Population and Housing Census would not be published before next February 2009, the Sudanese authorities announced today.
Under the 2005 peace agreement the general elections should be held before July 2009. The constituencies will be defined according to the number of population counted during the census.
Yasin Haj Abdin, the director of the Sudan bureau of statics that a series of technical problems related to the finding from northern Sudan would not be ready before the second week of February. He also underscored that there were no formal deadline for the publication.
The issue, of the first free elections in the country since twenty year ago, has become a topic of political blackmailing between the two partners of the national unity government. Nafi Ali Nafi, presidential Assistance and vice chairman of the ruling party said he would not accept any delay.
The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement expressed at the end of a meeting by the political bureau in Juba its readiness to contest the elections and urged the NCP to finalise the revision of some laws on the press and Publications and security law.
The two parties understand well that the run of the elections next year is much compromised, due to the important need of preparation. Experts say the best date for the elections could be by the end of November 2009 in order to avoid the rainy session.
Abdin further said the first set of census data to be released would include names, addresses and other details needed to demarcate constituencies and draw up an electoral roll.
Other data not needed for the election, including cultural details and family income, would not come out until June, he added.
(ST)