UNMIS: UN police forces have been training police authorities in north and south Sudan on election security

UNMIS & UNAMID Facts and Figures
Part of the UN’s mission is to provide security. As of 28 February 2010:

UNMIS (United Nations Mission in the Sudan) in southern Sudan, consists of 10,541 total uniformed personnel including 9,390 troops, 477 military observers and 674 police officers supported by 837 international civilian personnel, 2,620 local civilian staff and 375 United Nations Volunteers. [Source: www.un.org UNMIS Facts and Figures. Note: Statistics for international and local civilians are as of 31 January 2010]

UNAMID (African Union/United Nations Hybrid operation in Darfur) in western Sudan, consists of 21,800 total uniformed personnel including 16,852 troops, 273 military observers and 4,675 police officers, supported by 1,129 international civilian personnel, 2,526 local civilian staff and 410 United Nations Volunteers. [Source: www.un.org UNAMID Facts and Figures. Note: Statistics for international and local civilians are as of 31 January 2010]

The UN Provides Logistical Support for Elections, Security in Sudan
From VOA News by Peter Clottey, Wednesday, 14 April 2010:

A top official of the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) says the world body is supporting the full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), an effort supported by the government in Khartoum and its former adversaries, the southern-based Sudan People’s Liberation Movement.

“There has been a commitment by both parties to the implementation of the CPA and they have been [marking] the milestones for the implementation – one is the polls, and the UN Mission supports the Sudanese national elections commission with limited logistical support,” said UNMIS spokesman Ashraf Eissa.

Part of the UN’s mission is to provide security. UNMIS consists of over 17,000 military personnel and over 3,000 civilian police personnel.

“The UN police forces,” said Eissa, “have been training the police authorities in north and south Sudan on election security, and securing election ballots and stations.”

“We have had our civil access teams deployed to tense areas talking to tribal chiefs and resolving issue of contention in hot spots.

And the UN has been arranging patrols in areas with tribal violence in southern Sudan. They have been successful in diffusing tensions and stabilizing regions where tension is possible.”

In 2006 the United Nations-Habitat, which works on human settlements, opened a new office in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, to help resettle over two million internally displaced persons and refugees.

Sudan Elections: NEC announces start of polling - Ex U.S. President Carter congratulates NEC for excellent progress

Juba residents participate in a prayer service on the eve of the country's elections in Juba, Southern Sudan, Saturday, April 10, 2010. The people of Southern Sudan will cast ballots in a national election for the first time in more than two decades when a three-day election begins Sunday. Despite the first-in-a-generation vote, most people are already looking past the elections to a vote next January considered far more significant: a referendum on independence that could signal the birth of a new African nation, if final negotiations with Khartoum over oil rights and the location of the border are worked out peacefully. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)



A Sudanese Muslim boy prays in front of a mosque, near Khartoum, Sudan, Saturday, April 10, 2010. The election posters and slogan-filled T-shirts blanketing this town underscore a new excitement in southern Sudan, which will cast ballots in a national election for the first time in more than two decades, when a three-day vote begins Sunday. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)



A Sudanese National Election Commission (NEC) worker prays while her colleagues stand near polling boxes at a polling station in Al Fasher, northern Darfur April 10, 2010. (Reuters/Zohra Bensemra)



A Sudanese child is seen during a demonstration to demand stability in Sudan outside the Sudanese embassy in central London, Saturday April 10, 2010. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)



A Sudanese protester holds a placard during a demonstration to demand stability in Sudan outside the Sudanese embassy in central London, Saturday April 10, 2010. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

NEC Announces Beginning of Polling Period
From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, Saturday, 10 April 2010:

10 April 2010 - (Khartoum) – The National Election Commission has announced that polling will start officially on Sunday.

Addressing a press conference at the Friendship Palace in Khartoum on Saturday, NEC chairman Abel Alier officially announced the start of polling.

[Abel Alier]: “For the last fifty-six days of the electoral process, we were watching and you were watching political parties and candidates campaigning for these various offices, and that campaign ended yesterday. And today, there is a break tomorrow, we will start the last part of the elections process that is polling and the polling will take three days: 11, 12 and 13 April.”

Alier urged registered voters to go to the polling centers and cast their votes.

[Abel Alier]: “I would like to seize this opportunity to call upon the voter and through you the media, to convey this message. I ask the voter on behalf of the Commission to come out to vote. Just as the voter made every effort during the registration process where voters succeeded in attaining the highest registration rate in the history of the country and in many parts of the world, we are calling upon the voter to make every effort to come to cast his or her vote. And we call upon the citizens of this country to help encourage the voters to go to vote in the coming three days.”

He said the NEC wants to ensure that the results of the electoral process are free and fair.

[Abel Alier]: “We are committed to free and fair polling, we want to ensure that what we are doing will make it evident both to the voter, the ordinary citizen and to the world at large that this process of polling is going to be transparent as part of our commitment to free and fair elections and we want you, the media, to be with us in this. At this juncture, I would also like to mention my appreciation for the role played by the international community in assisting us in the process from May last year up to this moment, particularly the United Nations bodies.”

Alier said that more than 16 million people are expected to cast their vote during the polling period.

Former US President Jimmy Carter Congratulates NEC for Excellent Progress
From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, Saturday, 10 April 2010:

10 April 2010 - (Khartoum) – The former US President and the founder of the Carter Center, Jimmy Carter, says he is satisfied with the work of the National Elections Commission.

Carter made this statement to the press following his meeting with the NEC in Khartoum on Friday.

[Jimmy Carter]: “The representatives of the Carter Center have met with the NEC, and we had some questions to ask them and they answered all our questions satisfactorily, and they assured us that they are making excellent progress in the delivery of the elections material for the elections and we see no reason for any concern except in a few isolated stations way out where voter materials will be a little bit late, but they have three days at least to reach the voters. So we are satisfied with the decision made by the NEC. We are here to observe the process and we will make a report at the end.”

Last Tuesday, the SPLM’s secretary-general, Pagan Amum, had claimed that Carter Center staff had been expelled from nine states in northern Sudan and that Carter himself had threatened not to come to Sudan.

Carter said he was unaware of reports indicating that any of the center’s staff had been expelled from states in northern Sudan.

[Jimmy Carter]: “From northern Sudan? I don’t know of that. My son is going to Northern State, he is on his way there and I haven’t heard any reports about that. We had about twenty of our team this morning that left so they are on the way to be dispersed now.”

Regarding the electoral process in Darfur, Carter said his center would only comment on the election process after the elections had taken place.

[Jimmy Carter]: “We don’t have anything to report on the running of elections because they haven’t begun and we won’t make any assessment of the elections process until we make a panel decision and then we will have our press conference on the 17 April and that will be our first comment on the conduct of the elections.”

Former US President Jimmy Carter was talking to the press in Khartoum on Friday.

Alcohol Ban in Malakal As Some Traders Go On Holiday During Voting Period
SRS - Saturday, 10 April 2010 - (Malakal) - The governor of Upper Nile state, Dr. William Othon Awer has stressed that his government has taken measures to ensure good security and stability during the polling days in the state. Addressing people during a graduation of prison warders in Malakal on Friday, Awer denied rumors that some residents are leaving Malakal, for fear of insecurity. Awer has ordered bars and other places where alcoholic drinks are made or served to shut down until the end of polling. Our producer Hussein Halfawi in Malakal spoke to some traders in the area. Full story.

Yambio Residents Call on All Sudanese to Vote for Their Future
SRS - Saturday, 10 April 2010 - (Yambio) - As voting begins on Sunday 11 April all over Sudan, residents of Western Equatoria state expressed their readiness to vote in what for many will be the first democratic exercise of their lives. Southern Sudanese voters will be expected to complete twelve ballot papers in the voting period that will extend until 13 April. SRS took to the streets on Friday to find out how prepared residents are in Yambio and what these elections mean to them. Full story.

HEC Chair Warns Against Party T-Shirts and Violent Behaviour At Polling Stations
SRS - Saturday, 10 April 2010 - (Bentiu) - The chairman of the High Election Committee in Unity State is urging all candidates and their supporters not to turn up at the polling stations with their logos. Michael Mayor Chol was speaking during a press conference in Unity state on Friday. Chol also described the complaints procedure that will be put in place during the voting period. Unity state has more than 600 polling stations. Full story.

Some Foreigners Leave, Some Stay Behind on Eve of Elections
SRS - Saturday, 10 April 2010 - (Yambio) - Despite the fact that some foreigners have left southern Sudan because they anticipate election violence, some Ugandans, Somalis and Kenyans businessmen in Yambio say they will remain in southern Sudan throughout the elections. They expressed hope that the elections will be peaceful and that their businesses will continue doing well even after the elections. Here is David from Uganda. Full story.

Arman Withdrawal Causes Confusion Among SPLM Supporters in Khartoum
SRS - Saturday, 10 April 2010 (Khartoum) - The decision by the SPLM to withdraw its presidential candidate Yasir Arman from the presidential race has caused confusion among some young people in Khartoum. SRS spoke to a number of displaced youths from southern Sudan in Khartoum on Friday. Here, two young women explain how they feel about the SPLM decision to withdraw the Yasir Arman from the presidential race. Full story.

NEC Sudan says elections will be held in 1500 centers in Darfur region

Photo: Sudanese refugees walk in Abou Shouk refugee camp, on the outskirts of the north Darfur capital of el Fasher, Sudan, Wednesday, April 7, 2010. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

Dr Al Asaam says elections will be held in 1500 centers in Darfur region

Khartoum, April 8 (SUNA) - The National Election Commission on Thursday met at its headquarters, under the chairmanship of its President Abel Alier, with a delegation from the European Elections Observers Mission in Sudan.

Professor Mukhtar Al Asaam member of the Commission has pointed out that the meeting was held on the request of the European observers' delegation to explain the reasons that spurred them to issue a statement in which they have said they would be pulling out of Darfur. He said the European delegation has stressed it would be issuing a statement in which it would explain the real reasons behind the pull out of Darfur which are related transportation and stay in Darfur and that non of the reasons cited was among t hose circulated by the media on lack of stability there.

Dr Al Asaam has said the delegation of the commission headed by the NEC chairman Abel Alier that visited Darfur in the past couple of days has reaffirmed that the security situation in Darfur was better than t he situate ion a few months ago and that stability for holding the election was prevailing. He referred to the preparation of some 1500 centers that are fully secured for the election process.

On her part the head of the European delegation has praised the difficult work undertaken by the commission and that her visit to the commission shows the good relations between the delegation and the NEC.

Photo: A Sudanese street tailor sews a dress in the town of Al Fasher, northern Darfur, April 7, 2010. (Reuters/Zohra Bensemra)



Photo: A Sudanese refugee girl stands by vendor sitting under electoral posters, at a market in Abou Shouk refugee camp, on the outskirts of the North Darfur capital of el Fasher, Sudan, Wednesday, April 7, 2010. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)



Photo: Boys shine shoes in the town of Al Fasher, northern Darfur, April 7, 2010. (Reuters/Zohra Bensemra)



Sudanese refugee vendors sit by their goods as they wait for customers in the market of Abou Shouk refugee camp, on the outskirts of the North Darfur capital of el Fasher, Sudan, Wednesday, April 7, 2010. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)



Photo: A Sudanese refugee woman shops for food supplies at a market in Abou Shouk refugee camp, on the outskirts of the north Darfur capital of el Fasher, Sudan, Wednesday, April 7, 2010. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)



Photo: A Sudanese refugee family load food supplies on a cart in the market of Abou Shouk refugee camp, on the outskirts of the North Darfur capital of el Fasher, Sudan, Wednesday, April 7, 2010. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

Sudan's NEC chairman begins 4-day tour to North and South Kordofan and the three States of Darfur

Abil Alier to Leave for Kordofan and Darfur States
From Sudanese Online (SUNA), Monday, 05 April 2010:

Khartoum, April 4 (SUNA) - Chairman of the National Elections Commission, Abil Alier, Monday is due to begin Monday a four-day tour to North and South Kordofan and the three States of Darfur to get informed on the latest arrangements for the coming stages of voting, vote counting and declaration of the results in the election process.

Alier will be accompanied during the tour by the member of the commission, Dr. Mukhtar Al-Assam and the two national experts, Mohamed Al-Fadil and Al-Sir Ahmed Babiker

An official source at the National Elections Commission said that Deputy Chairman of the commission, Prof. Abdalla Ahmed Abdalla, accompanied by the national expert Bushra Ahmed Al-Sheikh, are due to leave for Nahral-Neil and the Northern States on April 8 to be informed on the ongoing preparations for holding the election process

The source indicated that member of the National Elections Commission, Dr. Mahasin Hajal-Safi, and the national expert, Osman Haj Al-Zaki, would leave on April 6 for the States of Great Bahral-Ghazal, Buhairat and Warap to inspect the preparations for the coming voting stage.

He said that member of the commission, Gen. (police) Abdalla Al-Hardallo, and the national expert, Khalil Hassan Khalil, will leave on April 6 for Wohda and Jongli States, while member of the commission Flister Baya and the national expert Baha-Eddin Al-Sayed will leave for Western and Eastern Equatoria States to be informed on the arrangement for the coming stage of the election process.

US envoy Gration says Sudan vote would be as "free and as fair as possible"

US special envoy to Sudan Scott Gration said on Saturday [April 03] he was confident Sudan's first general elections since 1986 would be as "free and fair as possible" and would start on time on April 11.

"They (electoral commission members) have given me confidence that the elections will start on time and they would be as free and as fair as possible," said Gration.

"These people have gone to great lengths to ensure that the people of Sudan will have access to polling places and that the procedures and processes will ensure transparency," he said.

On Wednesday, Yasser Arman, the presidential candidate for the former southern rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement, withdrew from race after Beshir ruled out delaying the vote.

"I took the decision to withdraw for two reasons. Firstly, after having campaigned in Darfur, I realised that it was impossible to hold elections there due to the current state of emergency," he told AFP.

"Secondly, there are irregularities in the electoral process which is rigged."

Arman said, however, that the SPLM will field candidates in regional and legislative elections "across Sudan, except for Darfur."

Full story by Guillaume Lavallee (AFP) Khartoum, ‎Saturday, 03 April 2010:
Sudan vote free and as fair as possible: US envoy



Photo: U.S. envoy to Sudan, Scott Gration, smiles as he leaves after his meeting with vice secretary general of the national elections commission Abdullah Ahmad Abdullah in Khartoum, April 3, 2010. One of Sudan's largest opposition parties said on Friday it would boycott presidential, legislative and gubernatorial polls if government did not meet demands, including a four-week postponement, within four days. (Reuters/Zohra Bensemra)



Photo: Vice secretary general of the national elections commission Abdullah Ahmad Abdullah talks to reporters after his meeting with U.S. envoy to Sudan, Scott Gration, in Khartoum, April 3, 2010. (Reuters/Zohra Bensemra).



Photo: U.S. envoy to Sudan, Scott Gration, talks to reporters after his meeting with vice secretary general of the national elections commission Abdullah Ahmad Abdullah in Khartoum, April 3, 2010. (Reuters/Zohra Bensemra)

Related reports

'No delay' for Sudan's national elections
BBC News - Saturday, 3 April 2010 13:01 UK

Sudan Says Election to Start on Time Despite Protest
New York Times - By Opheera McDoom (Reuters) KHARTOUM - Saturday, 3 April 2010

Sudan: April elections as scheduled - Election monitor deadline extended - SLM's Minnawi calls for delay

SUDAN'S elections on the 11th, 12th and 13th of April, will be keenly watched by the international community.



At an International donor conference for Darfur on the weekend, organisers in Cairo, Egypt fell far short of the $2 billion they'd hoped to raise, due to concerns over Sudan's security situation ahead of April's elections. Read more at Deutsche Welle (DW-WORLD.DE) Tuesday, 23 March 2010: Sudan instability hampering international aid to Darfur.
- - -

April elections as scheduled

THE National Elections Commission (NEC) has repeated its commitment to conduct the April elections as scheduled.

Also, the NEC has extended the period for receiving applications from local and international observers who would wish to participate in the April elections.

However, the leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), Mini Arkou Minnawi, says that the postponement of the April general elections, will pave the way for the conduct of free and fair elections in Sudan.

Note that the SLM is not registered as a party to participate in April’s elections. Reportedly, Mr Minnawi claims his party is being intentionally excluded from participating in the elections.

Full story here below.

NEC Still Committed To April Elections
From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, Tuesday, 23 March 2010:

(Khartoum) – The National Elections Commission has repeated its commitment to conduct the April elections as scheduled.

The NEC met on Monday in Khartoum to analyze a report by the Carter Center last week requesting NEC to delay the elections. The deputy chairman of the commission, Prof. Abdallah Ahmed Abdallah, addressed the press after the meeting.

[Prof. Abdallah Ahmed Abdallah]: “The report by the Carter Center stirred up the media. However, we would like to inform you that the report is not from NEC. The NEC has gone through the details. We saw a need to study the report in detail and that’s why we formed a committee to look into the report. And the conclusion is the elections will be conducted as scheduled, God willing, on the 11th 12th and 13th of April.”

Aside from a newly-deployed European Union mission, the Carter Center is the only international elections observation mission in Sudan.

- - -

Election Monitor Deadline Extended
From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, Tuesday, 23 March 2010:

(Khartoum) – The National Elections Commission has extended the period for receiving applications from local and international observers who would wish to participate in the April elections.

An NEC expert on elections, Mohamed Abdul-Daiem, told the press in Khartoum on Monday that they have received hundreds of applications from NGOs willing to observe the conduct of elections in Sudan.

[Mohamed Abdul-Daiem]: “After we had declared the 21st March as the final date for accepting applications for institutions wanting to observe the elections, we continued to receive applications and we realized that many civil society organizations are still carrying out trainings. And so, in appreciation of their efforts, we decided to include them in the observation process and we extended the initial date until 30 March. This will enable these organizations to participate in the first democratic exercise in Sudan. This morning, we received 8192 applications from local observers all over the country. We are now examining these applications and we will then issue them with identity cards.”

Mohamed Abdul-Daiem was speaking to the press in Khartoum on Monday.

- - -

Minnawi Calls For Delay in Elections
From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, Tuesday, 23 March 2010:

(Khartoum) – The leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement says that the postponement of the April general elections, will pave the way for the conduct of free and fair elections in Sudan.

Mini Arkou Minnawi, who is the senior presidential assistant, spoke to SRS from Khartoum on Tuesday.

[Mini Minnawi]: “The voices that are calling for postponement of the elections are right. Although the NCP do not accept the idea, it would have a positive impact on the security situation in Sudan. It would also impact on whether the elections will be free and fair. So we should consider all these issues, then move together towards finding the solution. But personally, I’m not part of these elections.”

Minnawi’s movement is not registered as a party to participate in April’s elections.

Minnawi claims that the NCP and the intentionally excluded his party from participating in the elections.

[Mini Minnawi]: “Our brothers in the NCP and the NEC have colluded to exclude us from these elections. But we will talk about that after the elections, because it is premature to talk about the result of the elections before we discuss the conduct of the elections.”

That was the leader of SLM, Mini Arkou Minnawi speaking to SRS from Khartoum.

- - -
More news from SRS

Tuesday 23-Mar-2010

• Bashir Threatens to Expel Election Monitors
• Presidential Candidate Urges Unity of Sudan
• Most Southern Sudanese At Risk from Water-Borne Diseases Says UNICEF
• Cattle Raiders Steal 400 Cows in Twic East

Carter Center calls on Sudanese National Elections Commission to delay elections

The Carter Center recommends that the National Elections Commission consider exercising its power to delay the election.

Carter Center Calls on NEC to Postpone Elections
Report from SRS - Sudan Radio Service:

Friday, 19 March 2010 - (Nairobi) – The Carter Center has issued a statement saying that the elections in Sudan, “remain at risk on multiple fronts, including the ability of candidates to campaign freely".

The elections watchdog also expressed its concerns about delays in the NEC’s logistical preparations.

The Center recommends that the National Elections Commission consider exercising its power to delay the election.

Apart from a newly-deployed European Union mission, the Carter Center is the only international elections observation mission in Sudan.

The Center’s statement urged the NEC to make a decision as quickly as possible about any delay in the election date "so that stakeholders have time to adjust their plans."

The Center also voiced concerned about lack of transparency in the post-election procedures, such as how and when the results will be released from polling stations.

- - -

The Carter Center is suggesting that next month’s Sudanese elections be postponed for up to 10 days.

Full story: VOA News Thursday, 18 March 2010 - Carter Center says Sudanese Elections Commission Should Consider 10-Day Delay in April Vote

S. Kordofan, Sudan - On Mon Feb 15: Kiir, Haroun Discuss Census, Elections, Border Demarcation

THE Governor of South Kordofan, Ahmed Haroun announced that the Conference of the Bordering Northern and Southern States will be held during February 27 - 28, with participation of ministers of the federal and south Sudan governments. Full report here below.

Kiir, Haroun Discuss Census, Elections, Border Demarcation,
From Sudan Vision Daily.com, Wednesday, 17 February 2010:

Neighbouring States Conference

(SUNA ) - The First Vice-President of the Republic and President of the Government of South Sudan (GoSS), Gen. Salva Kiir, Monday discussed with a high-level delegation headed by the Governor of South Kordofan, Ahmed Haroun, a number of issues pertinent to the census and its relation with the elections, work of the election commission, the post-referendum situation, demarcation of the border and the specialty of South Kordofan State in the coming elections.

Haroun announced that the Conference of the Bordering Northern and Southern States will be held during February 27 - 28, with participation of ministers of the federal and south Sudan governments.

The Minister of Information and Broadcasting in the Government of South Sudan, Paul Akej, said that the delegation's visit aims to discussing a number of issues that will be reviewed at the coming visit of the Presidency.

CPA Partners in South Kurdofan Affirm Peace, Elections Sustainability
From Sudan Vision Daily, Wednesday, 17 February 2010:

(Khartoum – Al-Sammani Awadallah) - South Kordofan Governor, Ahmed Haroun and his deputy Abdul Aziz Al-Hilu affirmed that the NCP and the SPLM are working jointly and seriously to develop constructive options over the disputes in the State to enable the Presidency issue the convenient decisions to resolve the disputes in its meeting of next Saturday.

Haroun and Al-Hilu said in a joint statement that the partnership spirit and the constructive coordination dominated the work in the state in the last six months represents a supply for resolving the existing problem over the elections in the state.

The governor and his deputy affirmed that they will concentrate in dealing with the problem in peace issue as it is the essential issue and that the elections are a fruit of peace process and one of the important stations for peace sustainability.

Security situation in Darfur, Western Sudan, 12 Jan 2010 - UNAMID/UNMIS begins assistance with electoral nomination process

Media brief from the United Nations – African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) 12 Jan 2010, El Fasher, Darfur, Western Sudan - via APO 13 Jan 2010:

Security situation in Darfur

The security situation in Darfur remains relatively calm but unpredictable.

UNAMID military forces conducted 90 patrols including routine, short range, long range, night, and Humanitarian escort patrols, thereby covering 83 villages and Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps during the reporting period.

UNAMID police advisors also conducted 92 patrols in villages and IDP camps.

UNAMID/UNMIS begins assistance with electoral nomination process

The UNAMID/UNMIS Electoral Assistance Division today announced the opening of the nomination period for the upcoming Sudanese elections. The announcement comes on the heels of yesterday’s publication of the final voters’ list, which contained more than 2.4 million voters out of an estimated 3.6 million eligible voters from Darfur.

The 10-day filing window allows for political parties and independent candidates to file qualification papers and is followed by a challenge period.

Voters go the polls in April 2010 to elect Presidents of the Republic of Sudan and the Government of Southern Sudan, a National and State Assembly, and Governors within Sudan’s 25 states.

The joint team of 20 UN mission staff in Darfur is tasked with providing technical and logistical support to the National Electoral Commission of Sudan.

Click on Security Situation in Darfur label here below to view latest and previous reports.

Sudan's al-Bashir presents nomination application to election commission

Report from China View (Xinhua) by Xiong Tong, 12 January 2010:
Sudan's al-Bashir presents nomination application to election commission

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Tuesday presented a nomination application to the Sudanese National Elections Commission (NEC) to run for the presidential elections scheduled for April this year, the official SUNA news agency reported.

The Sudanese president handed over the nomination application with the presence of Vice President Ali Osman Mohamed Taha and a large group of al-Bashir's supporters, according to the report.

Sudan President Bashir starts re-election bid

BBC News - James Copnall - ‎1 hour ago‎

Sudan leader Omar al-Bashir has been officially nominated to stand for president in April's election by his northern National Congress Party (NCP). ...

Terror in Sudan New York Times

Archbishop urges international community to help preserve peace in Sudan ChristianToday

Sudan's Beshir quits army to run again for presidency AFP

Xinhua - Reuters

all 606 news articles »

15 million Sudanese voters registered for elections

From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, Monday, 14 December 2009:
NEC Registers More Than 15 Million Voters

(Khartoum) – The National Electoral Commission has announced that more than 15 million voters have been registered for the forthcoming elections.

According to the head of registration at the NEC, Alhadi Ahmed Mohamed, about 15.8 million voters had registered by Sunday.

Alhadi Ahmed Mohamed spoke to SRS in Khartoum on Sunday.

[Alhadi Ahmed Mohamed]: “When we started the voter registration, we were anticipating a sixty percent turnout, or about eleven million people. Now we have exceeded fifteen million and are heading for seventeen million. I think this is a good percentage. Registration was conducted efficiently. During the period, we never faced any security problems, different parties carried out their work perfectly. The higher committees, the registration officials, the police force who secured the places, the government and the donors who paid for the operation; everyone was deeply committed to the process.”

Alhadi Ahmed Mohamed was speaking to SRS in Khartoum on Sunday.

NEC has criticised a report by the Carter Center

From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, December 3, 2009:

(Khartoum) – The National Elections Commission has criticized a report by the Carter Center which indicated that millions of Sudanese citizens may not vote in the coming general elections.

The chairman of the voter registration committee of the NEC, Lieutenant-general Mohammed Ahmed al-Mahdi, said that the report is unfairly critical of the way the registration exercise is being carried out.

[Lieutenant-general Mohammed Ahmed al-Mahdi]: "The Carter Center report is wrong. The report talks of political issues, the law and disagreements between the SPLM and the NCP. This has nothing to do with the National Elections Commission. The main question is: has NEC implemented the registration process efficiently? I would say yes. I am the one in charge of the registration in the Commission and now the statistics are available. Yesterday, we managed to go beyond 12 million voters and this has never happened in the history of Sudanese elections. So it is up to you to make the comparison. In the 1986 elections, we had 5 million voters and now we have over 12 million, not to mention the fact that we still have one week left and a total of 8000 officers in the field.

Mohammed Ahmed al-Mahdi was speaking at a press conference in Khartoum on Wednesday.

NEC says 12 million Sudanese people have registered to vote in the elections

Note that according to the statistics, Unity state boasts the highest number of voters registered in any of the 25 states of Sudan. 11 million voters registered in the 15 northern states and 2.5 million voters registered in the 10 states of southern Sudan.

The National Elections Commission has extended the registration period for an extra seven days, to end on December 7.

From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, December 2, 2009:

(Khartoum) – The National Elections Commission has announced that 12 million people have registered to vote in the elections scheduled for April 2010.

Lieutenant-general Alhadi Mohammed Ahmed, a member of the National Elections Commission, announced the figures at a press conference on Tuesday in Khartoum.

[Alhadi Mohamed]: “So far, the number of registered citizens has reached 12 million voters and we think this is a very reasonable number in accordance with the international targets which were set by the United Nations. We are expecting to reach 80 percent, which will be between 13 to 14 million voters. Although we have limited time which has required the elections to be pushed back from April 5 to 11, the adjustment might take us into the rainy season which as we all know limits access to many parts of Sudan, especially the south, the southern part of Blue Nile and South Kordofan and the southern part of White Nile and southern Darfur. All these areas get affected by the rain and their rainy seasons come earlier. So I believe for an election, the number we have is very reasonable compared to the previous registration which was conducted in 1986.”

According to the statistics, Unity state boasts the highest number of voters registered in any of the 25 states of Sudan. 11 million voters registered in the 15 northern states and 2.5 million voters registered in the 10 states of southern Sudan.

The National Elections Commission has extended the registration period for an extra seven days, to end on December 7.

Sudanese opposition party leaders meet on Dec 1 & 12 to decide on boycotting, participating or delaying elections

From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, 30 November 2009:

(Khartoum) - Opposition party leaders will hold a meeting on December 12 to decide whether to boycott the general elections, scheduled for April 2010.

In September, an opposition party conference in Juba recommended that if the democratic transformation laws were not endorsed by November 30, they would boycott the elections. So far, there is little sign that GONU intends to examine the legislation before the deadline.

The spokesperson for the national opposition coalition, Farouk Abu Issa, spoke to SRS on Monday from Khartoum.

[Farouk Abu Issa]: “We didn’t say that we will boycott the elections by November 30, but people have proclaimed it as the scheduled day for boycotting. Since the National Elections Commission has extended the voter registration deadline for another week, we’ve decided to hold a meeting of opposition parties on December 1. It will take place at the Umma party headquarters to discuss the agenda for the meeting of the leaders, and we have agreed that a general meeting will take place on December 12. So tomorrow’s meeting will prepare the papers which will be presented to the leaders, together with the different scenarios regarding the elections, to decide whether we will be boycotting, participating or delaying.”

Farouk Abu Issa was speaking to Sudan Radio Service from Khartoum.

South Sudan: Registrars in Mundari East are having problems reaching voters

In Mundari East county, southern Sudan, the National Elections Commission (NEC) should make sure that the registration centers are properly identified, so that people know where to go to register.

When they wanted to show the people how to get to the center, the NEC officials used the same boundary tape the deminers use to indicate the presence of land-mines

Full report from Sudan Radio Service, Friday, November 2009 by email:

27 November 2009 - (Mundri) - The logistical challenges facing registrars in Mundri East county are making it difficult to register people in the county.

Speaking to SRS on Friday, the commissioner of Mundri East county, Wilson Api John, says that the NEC should make sure that the registration centers are properly identified, so that people know where to go to register.

[Wilson Api]: "When they wanted to show the people how to get to the center, the NEC officials used the same boundary tape the deminers use to indicate the presence of land-mines. In Kideba, one of the registrars asked someone to go and register but he refused – he asked why the registration center was in a dangerous zone because he saw the tapes which usually indicate the presence of land-mines. It took a long time for people to understand that this was the place where they were supposed to register.”

Api added that a lack of transport is the biggest challenge faced by the voter registration team.

[Wilson Api John]: “The turn-out is very low. The officials who are supposed to be registering people are finding it hard to get to the registration centers. They do not have a means of transport - not even bicycles - therefore they are finding it hard to move around because the distance from the village to the registration centers is quite far. They have no means of transportation. They need at least a bicycle for them to get around.”

The commissioner of Mundri East, Wilson Api John, was speaking to Sudan Radio Service from Mundri.

Sudan Radio Service website at http://www.sudanradio.org/news.php is being redesigned and will be back online very soon.  

The National Electoral Commission has cancelled arrangements which made voter registration easier for Sudanese citizens living in Kenya

News report from Sudan Radio Service for Thursday, 26 November 2009:

(Nairobi) - The National Electoral Commission has canceled arrangements which made voter registration easier for Sudanese citizens living in Kenya.

Earlier this week, the NEC had decided that a valid passport or a student ID was enough to enable people to register. People without a valid passport were able to register if they were accompanied by a witness who could vouch for their identity.

However, speaking to Sudan Radio Service on Thursday in Nairobi, the Sudanese ambassador to Kenya, Majok Guangdong, said the Embassy had received a letter from the NEC which set out the new registration requirements.

[Majok Guandong]: "Yesterday, we received a letter from the National Electoral Commission indicating that the procedures should follow the law, which states that a person should be Sudanese, 18 years and above, holding a valid Sudanese passport and a resident permit. People who do not meet these requirements will not be able to register."

Ambassador Guandong fears that fewer people will register following the announcement of the new requirements.

[Majok Guandong]: "I think the number of people will definitely reduce because there is no flexibility and the people who will turn out will be just those who meet the new requirements. I am expecting that the numbers of Sudanese coming to register will drop considerably."

He urged Sudanese citizens living in Kenya to continue to participate in the voter registration exercise.

Click on National Election Commission label here below to view related news and updates. Cross-posted to Kenya Watch.
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UPDATE at 17:18 PM GMT UK Friday November 27, 2009:

Report by Sudan Radio Service, November 27, 2009:

(Nairobi) - Following the cancellation of arrangements which make voter registration easier for Sudanese living in Kenya, voter turn-out numbers are expected to decline.

The chairman of a Sudanese community association based in Nairobi, Dr. Senari Abdulwahab, says the National Electoral Commission is denying Sudanese who live abroad the right to register.

[Dr Senari Abdulwahab]: “It is very surprising, because when the representative from the Commission came we talked and he was clear that people should respect the law, but that there must be some arrangement made because most Sudanese nationals in Kenyan don’t have documents like a passport or a resident permit. We agreed and so I was surprised that after two days, the orders to relax the rules were canceled. After this has happened, we can not say that the registration process is for all Sudanese, because they have introduced regulations that are penalizing some people. It is clear that they do not want Sudanese nationals who live in Nairobi to register.”

Senari Abdulwahab was speaking to Sudan Radio Service on Friday in Nairobi.

NEC has appealed to GONU and international community to fund forthcoming elections in Sudan

Report by Sudan Radio Service, November 24, 2009:

(Khartoum) - The National Electoral Commission has appealed to the Government of National Unity and the international community to fund the forthcoming elections in the country.

The Chairman of the National Electoral Commission, Abel Alier, spoke to members of the press in Khartoum on Monday.

[Abel Alier]: “We are inviting international organizations and governments to deliver their pledges in order to conduct elections in an acceptable manner for everyone. Actually we received assistance but it was specifically for the media. We encourage countries and organizations to work with us, so they can see what we are doing with the assistance they provide. This is important to ensure that people do not think the assistance may be used to fund unacceptable activities.”

Abel Alier was speaking to the press in Khartoum on Monday.

Sudan's National Election Commission says voter registration has been extended by a week

Report by Sudan Radio Service, November 23, 2009:

(Khartoum) - The National Election Commission has announced that voting in the forthcoming general election which was scheduled for April 5, 2010, will now take place on April 11.

The voter registration period has also been extended by a week. The decision comes after the NEC held meetings with some political parties on Sunday. The parties demanded the extension of the voter registration period.

Lieutenant-general Alhadi Mohammed Hamad, an NEC registrar, spoke to Sudan Radio Service on Monday.

[Lieutenant-general Alhadi Mohammed Hamad]: “For logistical reasons, we have realized that in some states the registration process has been delayed, and we are also responding to the requests of the political parties who met with the NEC. The commission decided to extend the registration period for an additional seven days, from December 1 to the 7th. Of course, this change will affect the polling date. Instead of April 5, it will be changed to the 11th. We have informed the high commissions in the states so that they will implement the decision.”

Mohammed went on to deny accusations that the NEC is working with the NCP, saying that they have not received any complaints about the process.

[Lieutenant-general Alhadi Mohammed Hamad]: The registration is currently being monitored both locally and internationally by political parties and organizations like the United Nations. And all of them have praised us for what is taking place, and you can even read the statement made by the UN official who is here on a mission to monitor the registration process and so far no political party has issued any kind of complaints about the registration process in Sudan.”

Lieutenant-general Alhadi Mohammed Hamad was speaking to Sudan Radio Service on Monday.

Senior SPLM official urged NEC to allow the media to visit registration centers to inform people about voter registration

Untitled report by Sudan Radio Service, November 23, 2009:

(Khartoum) - The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement visited voter registration centers in Khartoum on Saturday and Sunday to assess the registration process in Khartoum state.

SPLM Ministers and State Ministers in the Government of National Unity, the Khartoum State Government and the National Legislatures went to visit 7 areas within Khartoum state where there are about fifty voter registration centers.

Speaking to Sudan Radio Service after their visit, a senior SPLM official, the deputy-governor of Khartoum state, Parmena Awerial Aluong, explains the purpose of the visit.

[Parmena Awerial Aluong]: “We visited sixteen centres and there were some problems in these areas. We tried to resolve some of them, not all of them but I felt that the visit was very, very important to us. One of the things I saw was that all the political parties were all represented in the centers [as election observers] and that makes the registration really different from other elections I have seen.”

Awerial urged the National Elections Commission to allow the media to visit the registration centers to inform people about voter registration.

Chief registrars in the different centers say they are forbidden by the NEC to give statements to the media.

Meanwhile, the secretary-general of the SPLM Parliamentary caucus in the National Assembly, Thomas Wani Kundu, says numerous violations were reported to the SPLM by the observers at the different centers in Khartoum.

[Thomas Wani]: “One, the NCP has a policy of deceiving people who come for registration. They are given fake forms which they fill in thinking that they have registered. And then of course people come innocently and began registering without knowing that they were not at a real registration center. Secondly, when the people go in they are called to back so that their numbers are written down and their telephone numbers are taken. The idea behind this is that those people can be bribed so that they will vote for the NCP. Despite the fact that we have got representation from the different political parties, the NCP was predominant in all these centers.”

Thomas Wani has urged southern Sudanese to turn out in big numbers to register in order to be ready to vote during the forthcoming general elections and also to prove “that the results of the recent census were falsified”.

South Sudan Democratic Forum says voter registration exercise has failed in southern Sudan

Untitled report by Sudan Radio Service, November 23, 2009:

(Khartoum) - The South Sudan Democratic Forum says the voter registration exercise has failed in southern Sudan.

The chairman of the South Sudan Democratic Forum, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs in the Government of Southern Sudan, Dr. Martin Elia Lomuro, addressed a press conference in Khartoum on Sunday.

[Dr. Martin Elia Lomuro,]: “The voter registration exercise has failed in southern Sudan and I think this is because the NEC and the Elections High Committee in the south did not do their work as we expected. These two committees have failed in their work. Why am I saying this? First of all, voters’ education started very late and it was inadequate and for that reason citizens do not know why they are being registered. Are we being registered for elections or for the referendum? There are some people who say let those who want to contest the elections come first so that we can register. Many people in many areas do not understand what voter registration is all about and I think this is a major failure.”

Dr. Lomuro cited some of the challenges facing the exercise in southern Sudan.

[Dr. Martin Elia Lomuro]: “First of all, there are no vehicles; there is only one vehicle for each county. They are very old vehicles which cannot travel everywhere, especially with the poor roads in southern Sudan. Secondly, there are no motorbikes, and no bicycles. Also, each registration official was given 100 SDG as living expenses for the period from November 1 to November 30. Then they are to be given 1000 SDG. That means that each registrar spends 3 SDG daily for survival and they are operating in areas where they don’t know anybody - and they also use this limited amount of money for food and accommodation.”

Dr. Martin Elia Lomuro was speaking in Khartoum on Sunday.