Kiir officially launches his election campaign on Saturday

By James Gatdet Dak

February 16, 2010 (JUBA) – The incumbent President of the semi-autonomous region of Southern Sudan and chairman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) is scheduled to officially launch his election campaign on Saturday, 20th February.

Salva Kiir Mayardit was nominated by his ruling party to contest for the post of the president of the Government of Southern Sudan. He will compete against another presidential candidate in the South, Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin, chairman of the breakaway Sudan People’s Liberation Movement for Democratic Change (SPLM-DC).

Dr. Lam Akol is currently based in Khartoum and has not yet officially launched his campaign in the South.

Kiir had earlier directed his governors in the South not to allow Akol’s party to operate in the region, accusing the party of allegedly having a military wing in violation of how political parties conduct their business, while Akol on the other hand wrote an objection letter to the National Elections Commission (NEC) asking it to disqualify Kiir’s candidacy, accusing him of allegedly remaining an active military officer in violation of the electoral law.

The two contestants for Southern Sudan presidency lost to each other or won cases at the same time in the court’s battles in Khartoum after the court ruled in rejection of their respective accusations, allowing both of them to run for the post.

Results of a recently conducted internet opinion poll on Sudan Tribune website this week in which more than 20,000 people participated had indicated that Dr. Lam Akol was ahead of Salva Kiir by a narrow margin.

Observers however questioned the reliability of the internet poll, arguing that participants in the internet voting might have not met the qualification criteria set by the National Elections Commission. They argued that some might have been foreigners, northerners, less than 18 years of age or those individuals that abused the process by casting votes more than one times, thus not reflecting a true potential result.

The poll also witnessed only the participation of the educated and mostly urbanized section of the society leaving out samples of the uneducated villagers who constitute the majority of population in the South.

Potential voters have been waiting eagerly to hear from the two leaders during campaigns about the program each of them wants to sell to the people of Southern Sudan in order to win their votes for the seat of the president.

At the level of governorship, two leading independent candidates have already launched their campaign for the post over the weekend. Afred Ladu Gore, an independent candidate for governorship of Central Equatoria state and another independent candidate, the incumbent governor of Eastern Equatoria state, Aloysius Emor Ojetuk, have already taken their campaign to the streets.

Moving with a large convoy of supporters in Juba town, Alfred Gore who competes against the incumbent governor, Clement Wani Konga, said if elected into office his priority would be to maintain security, turn the state into productive region for service delivery and make sure that employees receive their salaries.

He added he would also bring to an end the conflict between Mundari and Bari as well as any other inter-community conflicts involving the state.

With elections polling day, April 11, less than two months away, SPLM officials after Saturday are expected to begin crisscrossing various payams, counties and states campaigning for their respective seats and on behalf of Salva Kiir for the post of the president.

While Kiir fights for his party to maintain the seat of presidency in the South, his three deputies are also contesting for various seats. His first deputy, Dr. Riek Machar Teny is contesting for a parliamentary seat in his home constituency of Unity state, James Wani Igga aspires for a parliamentary seat in Juba and the party’s third deputy chairman, Malik Agar is contesting for governorship in his home state of Blue Nile where he currently serves as the governor.

(ST)