Sudan’s vice-president directs to begin Darfur referendum preparations
April 5, 2011 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan’s Vice-President Ali Osman Taha directed today to begin preparation for a referendum on Darfur administrative status, one week after the presidential decree on the vote.
President Omer Hassan Al-Bashir issued on 29 March a decree to organize a referendum in the restive region where voters have to decide on whether they prefer the current administrative division or want the establishment of a regional authority to lead the activities of the existing states and represent them in Khartoum.
Taha instructed on Tuesday the National Election Commission (NEC) to initiate the technical procedures related to the plebiscite on Darfur status and to prepare the voter registration process.
The decision was announced following a meeting he held with the presidential adviser in charge with Darfur file, Ghazi Salah Al-Deen and, state minister at the cabinet of ministers Mohamed Mukhtar Hassan Hussein.
Ghazi said the referendum is part of Darfur Peace Agreement inked in May 2006 with the rebel leader Minni Minnawi who rebelled again against Khartoum five years after the signing of the accords accusing the government of not implementing the deal.
In accordance with the NEC law, the electoral board has to issue the general rules of any referendum. It has also to determine the measures and arrangements and periodical schedules.
In 2009 the Sudanese parliament adopted the Southern Sudan Referendum Act but there is no another law appropriate to such situation.
The rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) stopped yesterday talks with the Sudanese government saying Khartoum should withdraw the referendum decree. The other rebel Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) reacted differently saying it will continue on the talks and will not renounce its demands for the regional authority.
During a visit to Doha after the publication of Darfur referendum decree, Sudanese president Omer Al-Bashir gave verbal assurances to the Qatari officials that the referendum will not be held before the end of the talks.
His presidential adviser Ghazi, from his part, said only the signing of an agreement in Doha will stop the government from holding a referendum on Darfur status.
The ongoing negotiations are at deadlock over the issue of the administrative status as the parties failed since last November to reach a compromise on the matter.
(ST)