Sudan delays national elections for the second time
June 30, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudanese elections commission has decided to introduce a 2-months delay once again to the general elections originally scheduled for February 2010.
The outcome of the fifth census is now rejected by the Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) which requested a political agreement over the issue but the dominant National Congress Party (NCP) continues to believe that the southern Sudan ruling party has to accept the internationally monitored results.
The elections will mark the end of the interim period that started in July 2005 following the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).
According to the CPA, the presidential and parliamentary elections on national and state levels were supposed to be held before July 2009.
However, Sudan electoral board decided to delay elections to February 2010, citing the need for further preparations and resolving crucial outstanding issues.
The commission today released a timetable showing that polling and sorting the results will occur in the week of April 5 2010. The voters’ registration is planned for November 2009.
Earlier this month one of the senior commission officials hinted that a delay may be necessary but later retracted his statements for unknown reasons.
“We are considering a modification, an adjustment of our old timeframe to accommodate the delays that have taken place,” said Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah, the deputy chairman of the National Elections Commission said in an interview with Reuters.
“Some of the intervals and the stages are dictated by law so you cannot accelerate the stages,” he further said.
Besides, the security law and Abyei issue, the North-South border still not defined. Boundaries delineation on paper could be done by September and on-the-ground demarcation by December, Abdullah said.
Also the Darfur conflict that erupted since six years ago does not seem of a major concern for the SPLM which focuses its efforts in the 2011 referendum. However, many unresolved questions are raised over the participation of the displaced and the refugees in eastern Chad.
The deputy head of the independent electoral board said they did not yet decide whether Sudanese refugees abroad will be allowed to vote and, if so, how.
Today NCP and SPLM officials speaking to Reuters suggested they agree with the commission decision to delay the elections further.
Some SPLM officials are wary that delay in implementing the key aspects of the CPA including elections would result in pushing back the referendum scheduled for 2011.
(ST)
truth to be told in SouthSudan
Sudan delays national elections for the second time
Dear Readers,
This is bullshit for really. what is the functions for delay? The month of april in southern sudan is terrible month due to rainy season. Fifth census was conducted during the month of april last year and the figures for south sudan is now questionable. I think Kiir is so dumb to let this maniplatication of north continue. Last year Kiir was advised by all southerners not to have census be conducted during the month of april due to heavy rainny season all across south sudan, but he was too naive to accept the process to proceed. Kiir is acting like he is servant to Albashir due to numbers of reasons:
1. Last year fifth census was wrong move by kiir
2. Reshuffle of important figures is also a wrong move by Kiir. the recent reshuffle of Deng Alor proved that, what ever Al bashir tell Kiir he accepted without thinking twice what political impacts his daily decision have in south sudan.
3. pushing of general election is totally going to destroyed CPA. The CPA stated that general election is to be held in July 2009, and now we are talking about repushed it from feb 2010 to april 2010. And next it is going to be pushed again to 2011. Salva should resign immediately because North are maniplating his mind to destroy CPA.
Hillary B.M.L,M
Sudan delays national elections for the second time
Cheating Method is not yet defined by Utaz Ali osman Mohammed Ali that is why they adjourned the Election on the fixed Time. I will not vote in the fake coming election.
Deng Chol Malual
Sudan delays national elections for the second time
On this issue of pushings within the CPA circuit attest to me and most other Sudan nationals that there will be no CPA stipulated half-period general election in Sudan.
I therefore, suggest that GOSS and peace-mother SPLM/A should mold the modalities answering the challenges ahead of the referandum time.
The challenges may include: what will happen if the South hoped referrandum expire and/or eliminated out;what will happen should the unity carry that referrandum day e.g which flag [New or old Sudan flag] be constituted in Sudan, and other political,socio-economic means.
Deng Chol Malual
Ghor
Sudan delays national elections for the second time
OK, Election is pushed to April 2010. But I want to remind Mr. Bashire that you can play around but don’t joke with januaray 9th 2011, the date for referandum, if you temper then you are ready for another violent but this time it will be worse.
confuse everything but we must vote for referandum on 9th Jan. 2011 whether with or without a referandum Bill you are also delaying to be passed in Parliment.
billieth
Sudan delays national elections for the second time
It comes to my attention that no election will ever take place in the Sudan. If the general election was truly called off for the rainy season, I don’t see any legitimate reason for second adjournment. Rainy season starts in April and therefore, we expect third postponement.
These issues such as: The security law, Abyei, the North-South border and many more have been on table for four years now and there have never been a break through. Southerners have to bear in mind that if this election doesn’t take place, then the referendum in 2011 will not happen. If Kiir’s leadership sees referendum as a key for Southern Sudanese Liberty, it had better reject the status quo.