Registration for South Kordofan elections postponed

By Julius N. Uma

January 17, 2010 (JUBA) – Registration for elections in Southern Kordofan, initially scheduled to start on January 16 have been postponed till further notice, Adam Alneel, head of the state committee overseeing the process told Sudan Tribune today.

“The National Elections Commission has decided to postpone the exercise of registering citizens to allow for consultations between government officials, political party members and those from NGOs [Non-Governmental Organizations]”, Alneel said.

The Khartoum-based commission is headed by Abdallah Ahmed Abdallah.

According to Alneel, several NEC officials are expected in Kadugli, the provincial capital of Southern Kordofan on Monday for a crisis meeting on the stalled registration issue.

He said that reports on Sunday indicating that he had resigned from his position, saying these were “mere media rumors”.

Alneel said, “No. I have never resigned or quit. How can I resign my position yet I have just been appointed to serve the interest of my people. Those saying I quit are merely spreading rumours in the media.”

Albaroud Jur, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) Chairperson for Kauda County in Southern Kordofan, largely blamed Sudan’s ruling Khartoum-based National Congress Party (NCP) for what he described as a “deliberate” attempt to manipulate both the registration and voting processes.

“We shall now allow our people to be fooled. It is our mandate as leaders from the SPLM to protect the rights and decisions of the peoples. Whatever the NCP is doing is totally against the law,” the SPLM chairperson said over the phone.

The NEC, according to Jur, insist that elections be held on the basis of an old voter registry, which took place nearly a year ago, something that the SPLM is strongly opposed to.

Over 2 million people are believed to have registered in previous registration exercise carried out nearly a year ago. However, with the recent return of thousands of refugees into the area, the population could have tremendously increased.

Elections have been set for April. During this exercise, registered citizens will be required to elect a new governor and state legislative assembly members. The newly elected state representatives are expected to play key roles in the popular consultations with their counterparts in Southern Blue Nile.

(ST)