Skepticism, anxiety, remains high ahead of Sudan’s polls

By Julius N. Uma

April 9, 2010 (JUBA) — Open campaigns in Sudan’s much-anticipated general elections officially ended Friday, after nearly two months of an intense process as per the country’s National Elections Commission (NEC) regulations.

Initial reports of opposition parties boycotting the polls, not only damaged the credibility of the much-anticipated election, but further limited prospects for attaining a free, fair and transparent election.

Earlier on, there were reports that the western powers, particularly Washington, had issued a statement saying no matter how bad the elections are, their priority is that Sudan holds a peaceful referendum next year when the south of the country votes on whether to secede.

A source, quoting the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Sudan Rice said Washington had suggested a late start to the polls, which along with the referendum are a key stage in a 2005 north-south peace deal which ended Sudan’s 22-year civil war.

However, the Khartoum government totally dismissing a U.S-backed suggestion that it would consider supporting a brief delay to ensure greater stability.

According to Khartoum’s U.N. ambassador, Abdalmahmoud Abdalhaleem, “The government itself cannot do that and elections are not going to be delayed at all,” he was quoted saying, adding that, “After all, these types of functions is the responsibility of the national electoral commission and not the government.”

VOTERS SPEAK OUT

David Dau, from the Association for Independent Media (AIM) already anticipates a peaceful process in the elections, calling it a gateway to the conduct of a successful 2011 referendum.

“As southerners, we remain determined that these general elections will be free, fair and conducted in a transparent manner. I don’t think there will be chaos since our peoples’ minds remain focused on the forthcoming referendum,” Mr. Dau told Sudan Tribune.

Lam Tungwar, the Chairman of South Sudan Artists’ Association (SSAA), a body that unites all Sudanese local artistes also expressed his desire for peaceful transition through these elections.

SSAA was recently involved in the pro-election walkathon event and the 2010 election rally organized by the women and youth to show cause for non-violent elections.

“As artistes we advocate for peace and stability, not war. We have composed lots of music not to incite the population, but rather create awareness and educate the masses on the importance of peaceful election,” he said.

Ann Mary Kiden, a self-employed woman, however, expressed skepticism about the success of the elections, claiming her favorite candidate [SPLM’s Yasir Arman] withdrawal from the polls dashed her hopes.

“I will not vote” she told Sudan Tribune. “How do you expect me to exercise my voting rights when my candidate has withdrawn? The whole thing has lost meaning”, she added.

ABOUT THE ELECTIONS

The once war-ravaged Sudan is scheduled to hold general elections, its first in 25 years to be held in both north and south, from April 11 to 18. The elections are as a key milestone in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), the accord that ended nearly three decades of a bloody civil war between the north and south of the country.

However, during this historic event, voters will cast ballots for the President of Sudan, the National Assembly, President of the government of Southern Sudan, Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly, and governors and assemblies for the 25 states of Sudan (Southern Kordofan state, on the north-south border, will hold only national-level elections). In the north, voters will cast eight separate ballots, and in the south, voters will cast 12 separate ballots.

A total of 26 political parties, including the two ruling parties, the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement (SPLM) have adopted the Sudan Electoral Code of Conduct prepared by the African Union High Level Panel on Sudan. This code commits the parties to common principles for free and fair elections.

Under the code, parties undertake to abide by electoral laws, promote a fair electoral contest, and to refrain from all forms of violence and obstruction of other contestants.

According to the electoral code, parties in government must also ensure that they do not use their access to official resources, including the state media, to obtain unfair electoral advantage for themselves or any other parties or to obstruct other parties.

(ST)