Darfur referendum procedures progressing well: DRC
January 31, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – Darfur Referendum Commission (DRC) said it would distribute a number of logistical supplies in preparation to hold the administrative referendum scheduled between 11 to 13 April.
The DRC announced it would begin to distribute a booklet including the general rules for the referendum besides other guides to help understand the referendum process in Darfur’s five states during the next couple of days.
DRC spokesperson Aisha al-Huwaira said the booklet and the guides would be handed over to all the stakeholders including heads of the referendum committees, local and international monitors, and the DRC officials.
She pointed out that all technical and administrative procedures to hold the referendum are progressing well, saying the DRC delegation has followed up on the entire arrangements during its recent visit to the five states.
Al-Huwaira, who spoke to the semi-official Sudan Media Center (SMC), said the meetings between the DRC delegation and the governments of the five states have identified the role of each side in the referendum.
Meanwhile, the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) underscored it wouldn’t back down from holding the referendum, saying it is a constitutional right that was agreed upon by the government and the DDPD signatories.
NCP deputy chairman and presidential aide Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid renewed their full commitment to hold the administrative referendum in Darfur; the Doha forum is the main platform for any talks with the rebels.
For his part, the head of the NCP secretariat for Darfur Al-Daw al-Faki said they would tour the five states to follow up on the ongoing arrangements to hold the referendum, saying his party is in favor of retaining the existing administrative status in Darfur.
He pointed that the NCP leadership office has emohasised that the referendum would be held on time, saying they formed several higher committees to ensure the participation of Darfur residents in the referendum.
Several lawmakers had previously called to postpone the referendum saying the exercise will create a new turmoil in Darfur and also noted the huge financial cost of the referendum.
Others also, pointed that the national dialogue conference will discuss the current territorial administrative division and requested to postpone the referendum which was supposed to be held “no sooner than one year” after the signing of the DDPD.
According to the latest census, the inhabitants of Darfur region are estimated at 12 million people including 5 million internal and external migrants.
Observers close to the file in Khartoum say the organization of the referendum illustrates once again the deep divisions among the Darfurians, adding that those who are against the process are not part of the DDPD signatories.
Some rebels among the non-signatories of the Doha framework agreement say they are against the referendum because it would not express the will of Darfurians, pointing to the IDPs and refugees in Chad who will not participate in the vote.
(ST)