UN official warns Darfur may be excluded from Sudan’s election
July 24, 2009 (UNITED NATIONS) – The UN peacekeeping chief told the Security Council that Darfur Internally Displaced Persons would be deprived of taking part in the 2010 general elections, and this would affect the power sharing in the country.
In April 2010 Sudan is expected to hold the first fair and free elections after two decades of totalitarian regime in accordance with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). However, Darfur rebels and former rebels rejected census results and asked to delay the electoral process to after a lasting peace agreement in western Sudan.
“The contested census, large-scale displacement and volatility, particularly in the area bordering Chad, create enormous risks that the people of Darfur will not be in a position to participate in the electoral process,” Le Roy said.
“This would further disenfranchise millions already disempowered by conflict,” he said, adding that the election results will have an “enormous impact” on the distribution of political power in Darfur where millions of IDPs live in camps.
The election electoral board determined April 2010 to run the presidential and national parliament elections as well as states elections that would mark the end of the interim period that started in July 2005 following the signing of the CPA.
Darfur rebels said Sudanese government seeks to organize the election before the settlement of Darfur conflict in order to exclude them from participating in the electoral process. But the SPLM also had been strongly opposed to such delay.
Speaking about the security situation in the war-ravaged region, Le Roy told Council members that large-scale violence and civilian displacement was now rare, although localized attacks still occur.
However, he pointed out that conflict with Chad which shares border with Darfur, threatens the stability in the region.
Le Roy noted that the evolution of the crisis does not diminish the tragedy of Darfur or lessen the suffering of the 2.7 million people estimated to be displaced.
He said the Sudanese Government must make serious concessions in the peace process and illustrate its commitment to Darfur by actively investing in the region’s people and infrastructure, and he called on the rebels to compromise among themselves and agree on a serious platform for discussions.
(ST)