Sudan’s NCP signs electoral code of conduct

March 8, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – The ruling Sudan National Congress Party (NCP) today signed the Electoral Code of Conduct, a week after fifteen other parties endorsed it in the Southern Sudan capital of Juba.

The African Union (AU) issued a statement today saying that the code “commits the parties and candidates to common principles for free and fair elections, facilitates self-regulation by Sudan’s political parties during the forthcoming elections”.

“The AU believes that this Code can play an important role in promoting democratization in the Sudan and in building confidence between the different political parties”.

Last week Southern Sudanese political parties and Northern parties competing in the South came together to hammer out the agreement in a two-day meeting convened by the African Union High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) on Sudan.

“The parties undertake to ensure that the forthcoming elections are free, fair and inclusive,” the document read. “The democratic political process must be protected from any form of violence or intimidation”.

The NCP was not present at the Juba meeting, but senior AU officials said the party had committed itself to signing the deal later.

“The signing by the NCP of the Code of Conduct provides further momentum for its acceptance by all national Sudanese political parties, and further enhances the chances for a peaceful electoral process in the forthcoming elections. It is expected that more parties will associate themselves with the Code within the coming days.”

Opposition parties have left the door open for boycotting the elections in their upcoming meeting next week accusing the electoral commission and the government of working to curtail campaigning and breaching the election law in favor of the NCP.

Sudan is preparing for April presidential and legislative elections, set up under a 2005 peace accord that also promised the south a referendum in 2011 on whether to split off as an independent country.

(ST)