Eritrea proposes delay to Sudan elections and referendum
March 5, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – The Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki has recommended to his Sudanese counterpart Omer Hassan Al-Bashir a 2-year delay to the April national elections and the 2011 referendum in South Sudan, an official in Asmara said today.
Sudan state media Bashir today concluded a one day visit to Eritrea for talks with Afewerki on the elections, progress of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and the Darfur conflict.
Relations between the two countries have been strained lately over Khartoum non-rejection to Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) statement last year calling for imposing sanctions on Asmara for its role in aiding and arming the Islamist rebels.
In December 2009, the UNSC heeded to the request and slapped asset freezes and travel bans on the government as well as individuals and companies.
Bashir reversed his country’s position expressing solidarity with Eritrea in the face of the sanctions saying that Sudan has managed to wither the effects of similar bans imposed by the UNSC and other countries in the past.
The Eritrean presidential adviser Abdullah Gabir told the London based Al-Sharq Al-Awsat that his government fears the April elections could deepen the rift in the country adding that polls are a tool and “not a goal in themselves”.
“Two years ago we proposed to the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) a two year postponement to the elections and the South Sudan referendum to prepare the environment and clean the field for all Sudanese parties” Gabir said.
He suggested that the NCP would not object to delaying the elections on the condition that the referendum would be pushed back as well.
The Eritrean official revealed that they gave a specific suggestion to conduct the referendum first and if it comes in favor of unity then elections can be held in the entire country otherwise they will take place in two separate states.
However, Bashir rejected the idea and insisted to carry the elections and the referendum as planned. Gabir stressed that situation in Sudan is not conducive given pending CPA disputes and Darfur conflict.
Last month it was reported that Egypt was pressing both parties on the same proposal but it was not clear what the response from Sudan’s rivals.
The SPLM has vehemently refused any move to postpone the referendum process and many think tank groups fear a return to civil war should the self determination process be disrupted. However, many post-referendum issues have yet to be addressed particularly nationality, national debt, water agreement with the border demarcation process well behind schedule.
(ST)
Gatwech
Eritrea proposes delay to Sudan elections and referendum
Ahahahahaaaaaaa……
I know that elections will NOT take place but still I am worried that the leadership will be changed in different form. Watch out for those conspirators. It is a very dangerous stage we are entering in the next one month. Watch out!!!
majook
Eritrea proposes delay to Sudan elections and referendum
Mr.Afewerki,
This April elections in Sudan must happen.we know that the Horn Africa golf States are in favour of unity of sudan. It may sound opposite to have elections before refrendum,but we know the way we can separate ourselves from Khartoum.Bahir Must go home this time and clear his name from the ICC LIST!
Thanks
Dinka Boy
Eritrea proposes delay to Sudan elections and referendum
Hey mr Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki ,
South Sudanese knew your connection with Omer Bashier for decades. Let me gice you example that you know your country as Khartoum government allies.
In 1992, your governmnet attack Pachalla in which both of Arab and your deployment were around pachalla. SPLA chased away Arab forces while you your forced came on the other side and as aresult that lead to the fall of Pachalla in 1992. We knew that incident and we lost lots of live in that war.
After your governmnet captured Pachalla, you guys hand it over to Jallaba/Arab and this cause the withdrawal of Mabafos/SPLA units who were deployed around JUba and Torit to captured it and this lost our lives too.
Please, we South Sudanese have no hears to listen to your recommendation about CPA. We want others who never collide with this Bashier governmnet.
Please shut up because you are more harmful than you think. No posponement for 2010 and 2011.
Thanks
Chol Mading
Eritrea proposes delay to Sudan elections and referendum
President Afewerki, why are you worrying about Sudan and not your cousin Zenawi in the South border? People of South Sudan have protected you for years in Khartoum and have already forgotten their help.stop running wild and start cleaning your dirty nose.
When you gained your independence from Ethiopia we did not asked for delayment. Please leave our matters alone and this election will not be postponed as you portraited.
Oduck Bol
Eritrea proposes delay to Sudan elections and referendum
There may be a concert coming up in Sudan. It is good place to sell popcorn there.But there is enough popcorn already there.So I will not get chance to sell mine too there. But, what about kids and old peole? Iam looking fore a job at UN,RED CROSS and at others too.
choldit
Eritrea proposes delay to Sudan elections and referendum
Mr. President, this is a wrong sugguestion! Referendum is what we based our hope on. It has to happen has scheduled. There are lot of things that can go wrong in two years if we stay with this Arabised Sudanese in the North.
You need to think differently from postponement. Perhaps giving those undone tasks first priority may do go than your current sugguestion.
Thanks for your concerns!
paul baak anyaar
Eritrea proposes delay to Sudan elections and referendum
To hell with your proposal Mr. Afewerki. Your proposal will never be effected here as long as the power of our sovereignty still prevails. Leave us alone if you don’t mind that please. The Sudanese people will decide what to do.
Gatwech
Eritrea proposes delay to Sudan elections and referendum
Dear readers,
Please before we bitterly criticize President Isayas’ suggestions, read between the lines, especially in his fourth to the last paragraph in the news article which says, “The Eritrean official revealed that they gave a specific suggestion to conduct the referendum first and if it comes in favor of unity then elections can be held in the entire country otherwise they will take place in two separate states.”
I gree with this beautiful suggestion from the Eritrean President to conduct referendum first before elections. Any way for those of you who were familiar with the Naivasha peace talks, the SPLM was not interested in elections before referendum. It was the NCP delegation that pushed for it as a prerequisite. The SPLM made a big mistake by accepting that trap!
If one is to ask himself or herself in this situation, what is the necessity for holding elections as a prerequisite for the referendum? It is useless if it is something that can even harm referendum in the process. The NCP would rig it any way, and so what is the importance of such elections?
Sudan’s independence in 1956 was even declared by a parliament which was not an elected one. So what would be the dfference if the same is applied to the South?
I recommend that we postpone the elections and conduct referendum first and then come for elections later on, either as confirmed united Sudan or separate elections by two independent North and South, period!!!
Time1
Eritrea proposes delay to Sudan elections and referendum
Where was Eritrea all this four years? helping rebels in Somalia?
What will Eritreans say if Ethiopia had ask the independences of Eritrea to be delayed for another 2 years?
Oduck Bol
Eritrea proposes delay to Sudan elections and referendum
You guys, do not calculate the out come of your action. Mainly SPLM. From five years until today SPLM has been supporting Darfourians even ICC court which has no conection with death of 3000,000 southerns. But, when other state supporting Darfourins or interest of Dafourians,you stand against him.
Do not blaim those who support Darfourian interest because you are the first one who showed your support first.
Let me ask this question and any body can answeer it . Have you ever heard from Darfourian a ward that they support southerns, or southern’s independent or southern who stand as a canadate for presidencey in Sudan?
Some people will always continue regretting.