UN chief urges Sudanese to exercise their right to vote

April 10, 2010 (UNITED NATIONS) – UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said today peaceful and credible elections in Sudan are of paramount importance for the international community urging all the Sudanese to exercise their right to vote.

Over 16 million of Sudanese will vote on Sunday for the first time in 24 years to elect a national president, besides a president for the southern Sudan government and governors, they are also asked to choose members of national, southern Sudan and regional assemblies.

“For the international community, the holding of peaceful and credible elections is of paramount importance. The elections should contribute to the opening of political space in Sudan, ahead of the January 2011 referenda stipulated in the CPA” said Ban Ki-Moon today.

In a statement released on Saturday, the UN chief encouraged the Government, the National Elections Commission (NEC) and political parties to ensure that the elections are conducted in a peaceful atmosphere, free of violence, harassment or intimidation and to engage in dialogue to address outstanding concerns.

Ban said the international body, in accordance with its mandate, will continue to provide technical assistance and limited logistical support to the NEC and other relevant authorities, towards a successful electoral process.

The three days polling is monitored by the international and domestic observers but the opposition accuses the dominant National Congress Party of fraud and irregularities.

Sudanese Ambassador to the UN Abdalmahmood Abdalhaleem Mohamad last Thursday stressed that the upcoming Sudanese national elections will be “fair, transparent and successful.”

“I can ensure that everything is set for a fair, democratic and transparent elections that everybody in Sudan will be proud about, ” Abdalmahmood stated at the UN Headquarters after Security Council consultations on Sudan.

(ST)