Darfur governors say ready to hold administrative referendum

April 8, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – Governors of Darfur five states have expressed readiness to ensure the success of the administrative referendum scheduled to be held between 11 to 13 April.

The Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) provides that the permanent administrative status of Darfur be determined through a referendum. The voters have to vote for the creation of a Darfur Region composed of the States of Darfur; or the retention of the status quo of States system.

Governor of North Darfur state Abdel-Wahid Youssef said that the general mood in the region is in favor of peace and stability and against any kind of violence and war, pointing however that a new generation has grown up during more than a decade of conflicts in the region.

Youssef, who spoke at a talk show broadcasted by the public Radio Omdurman on Friday, added that all residents of his state are now enjoying peace, stability and security, saying this would largely impact on their contribution in the referendum.

For his part, the governor of South Darfur state Adam al-Faki said his state is ready to hold the referendum, pointing to the completion of the various financial, technical, administrative and security arrangements.

Gaafar Abdel-Hakam, governor of Central Darfur, for his part, also stressed the completion of the necessary arrangements to hold the referendum, pointing to the establishment of two technical and security committees.

He said the two committees are connected with the federal committees, pointing they are responsible for meeting the security, administrative and technical requirements of the Darfur Referendum Commission (DRC).

Governor of West Darfur state Khalil Abdallah described the recent visit of President Omer al-Bashir to the region as successful, saying it came at an important junction and addressed the basic issues of the people.

The DRC earlier said that 3,5 out of 4 million people have registered for the referendum.
It is noteworthy that the referendum would be held in all 65 localities of Darfur including the Jebel Marra area unlike the 2015 general elections which were not held in some parts of the area that were controlled by the rebel groups.

The referendum has the support of former rebel groups signatory of the Doha framework agreement.

However, opposition and rebel groups insist on the timing and the legitimacy of the procedure. They say that referendum wouldn’t express the will of Darfurians, pointing to the IDPs and refugees in Chad who won’t participate in the vote.

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