Polling generally peaceful all over South Sudan

By James Gatdet Dak

April 14, 2010 (JUBA) – As polling for the first multi-party democratic elections in 24 years enters its fourth day, voters continue to peacefully cast their votes in Southern Sudan, contrary to the previous fears that violence might flare up during the exercise.

Frustrations by voters whose names are still missing or transported to wrong locations by officials of electoral commission, including some reports of intimidations and even arrests are still being talked about, but manageable complaints.

In Juba, the capital of the semi-autonomous region, voters affiliated to different political parties or supporters of independent candidates have been queuing to vote hand in hand and avoiding any situation that would incite violence.

Though many foreigners left the region for fear of elections-associated violence, those that have remained behind appreciated the calm during the exercise. “I couldn’t believe that the elections would reach its third day without the widely anticipated violence in the South. Despite the frustrations I hear about the irregularities all over, I do really appreciate the voters in Southern Sudan for overcoming the situation by avoiding any sort of violence,” said Felix, a Ugandan businessman in Juba.

Another businessman from northern Sudan stationed at Konyo-Konyo market in Juba said he, like his other colleagues, had been selling his items in the market as usual without any sign of fear, and appreciating the peaceful manner in which elections have been conducted.

The polling has been extended for two more days till Thursday, 15th April, giving hope to voters whose names continue to be missing that the issue would be corrected during these two more days.

Others throughout the region are forced to walk several hours after they are told that their names appeared in different stations far from the stations they previously registered in.

The incumbent President of the region, Salva Kiir Mayardit, in a meeting on Tuesday with the visiting AU Panel chairman and former South African President, Thabo Mbeki, said voters had to walk up to six hours to voting stations only to find that their names were not there. Then, he further explained, they had to walk other six hours back home, yet the determination to vote remains unaffected.

Officials in the region appeal to voters to maintain calm even after the announcement of the results.

Kiir in a press conference he conducted on his final day of campaign last Friday assured that if his party [SPLM] is elected to the Southern Sudan presidency, he would make sure that the next government will also be inclusive of other like-minded political parties in the South.

His statement of inclusiveness is widely welcome and may help in maintaining calmness in the region in after the results are announced.

“This is very wise decision by the SPLM chairman. If he wins the election he should actually include in the next cabinet leaders of the opposition parties in the South. This will make their supporters happy so that they don’t become desperate or active opposition,” said one supporter of United Democratic Front (UDF).

(ST)