Former rebels asks extension of voter registration in Darfur

December 12, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — Minni Minnawi the Senior Presidential Assistant and head of Darfur authority called for additional time to conduct voter registration in the restive region of western Sudan.

The former rebel leader, who signed the Darfur Peace Agreement with Khartoum in May 2006, recently joined a large coalition for the Sudanese opposition and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM).

He expressed repeatedly frustrations and criticized Khartoum for the poor implementing the peace agreement. He also accused the ruling National Congress Party of imposing emergency state there and confiscating public freedoms.

Minnawi said the voter registration operation “in some areas of Darfur was tribal and selective.” He further said the way in which the electoral process is now conducted in Sudan show that it would not be free or fair.

He pointed out that it was clear from the result of the fifth census, which did not satisfy all the political forces particularly the SPLM.

The Senior Presidential Assistant complained in a meeting of the opposition leaders last week suffers from his marginalization by the dominant National Congress Party in the national unity government.

In September 2008, Minnawi signed with the Vice-president Ali Osman Taha an agreement providing to include the DPA in the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of Sudan, and to represent his movement in the different national institutions and administrations.

The parties agreed that the agreement should be enforced with a month but it never been implemented.

On December 7, the hybrid peacekeeping mission reported that voter registration centers were opened in IDPs camps of Abu Shouk and Al Salam, Zamzam in North Darfur.

The three camps include among its residents Minnawi’s supporters.

(ST)