S. Sudan: SPLA denies killing NCP members in Raja County - 'Sloppy reporting has fueled misperceptions of election-related killings'

Noteworthy Quote - re media standards

"I urge all the news media, election observers and agents, and political parties to be responsible in their reporting of incidents. They should confirm the facts of such incidents before making allegations that cannot be substantiated or supported with credible evidence, and those failing to do so should be held accountable."
- Cde. Dr. Anne Itto, SPLM Southern Sector deputy secretary general, Thursday 15 April 2010

Source: See report here below.
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Sudan Watch Editor's Note: On Thursday 15 April 2010, while scrolling through a website called i On SUDAN, I noticed a report (marked as 'unverified') relating to some news reports (listed here below) which I held back from chronicling here at Sudan Watch until the picture became more clear. Here is a copy of the report (red highlighting is mine) followed by my collection of related reports, for future reference and studying at a later date.

Copy of report published at website i On SUDAN:
Sloppy reporting has fueled misperceptions of election-related killings
Location: Juba, Sudan
Date: 15 April 2010 01:45
Report description:

SPLM Headquarters: Southern Sector Deputy Secretary General responds to inaccurate media reports of SPLM-linked election violence

JUBA (15 Apr) – On Thursday, Cde. Dr. Anne Itto, SPLM Southern Sector deputy secretary general, released the following statement after several media reports have incorrectly reported claims from opposition party leaders that their members were killed at the hands of security and/or military personnel at the direction of or in allegiance to SPLM.

"On April 15th, several news sources, including a reputable international wire service - Reuters - reported that nine (9) people were killed in W. Bahr el Ghazal state. After consulting with security officials and other prominent members of the state government, I was able to confirm that five (5) people were in fact killed in Timsah payam of Raja county. An SPLA soldier returned to his home to find his wife with another man. The soldier killed the man and relatives of the slain man, upon hearing of the incident, rushed to the scene and killed four other people including the husband of the women. This was purely a crime of passion that resulted in revenge killing. It was not politically motivated. I wish to offer my condolences to the families who lost loved ones as a result of the terrible act of violence.

“Without checking their facts, Reuters inaccurately reported a claim by NCP that among the nine dead in Raja, included the local president of NCP. I spoke to him from Wau about two hours ago and I can assure you that he is alive and well.

“A criminal investigation has been opened regarding these killings, which are not election-related. Such information has been independently verified by numerous sources to include election observers, and local police and government officials. Attempts by NCP to link SPLM to this crime of passion is irresponsible. It is also irresponsible for journalists to include such accusations in their reporting without exercising discretion over their validity.

"In another example, on April 13th Lam Akol went to the media to claim that two of his supporters in Unity State had been killed by SPLM soldiers, and implied that this was done in coordination with SPLM. This claim has since been independently investigated and it turns out that it was scuffle between some groups and we have unconfirmed reports of injuries but no deaths.

"Why did the Sudan Tribune run so fast with such an allegation without confirming whether or not what Lam Akol is saying is true or false? In fact, the unnamed journalist conveniently writes that "The report could not immediately be confirmed by independent sources." Why was this published if it could not be independently verified? This is more like tabloid journalism than news, but unfortunately it is being taken as fact by their readers.

"The media needs to do more than simply publish claims by our opponents about deaths and violence, and that such acts are linked to SPLM. They need to independently confirm these reports. Anything less is equivalent to supporting the spread of rumors and innuendos.

"This type storytelling journalism will only lead to misperception about the real situation on the ground and foment tensions and threaten stability of the South. I urge all the news media, election observers and agents, and political parties to be responsible in their reporting of incidents. They should confirm the facts of such incidents before making allegations that cannot be substantiated or supported with credible evidence, and those failing to do so should be held accountable."

"The SPLA, police service, intelligence units and other security organs of the state are controlled and directed by the state – not SPLM, the political party. Our party is a non-violent democratic movement who has fought for decades for the individual freedoms that so many Southern Sudanese are enjoying today. Furthermore, the actions of rogue security agents and/or military personnel should not reflect official government policy, let alone SPLM policy.

"To imply that the political leadership of SPLM is actively colluding with security and military officials on the ground is a claim that has not been substantiated with any proof. We do not have SPLM political agents stationed with security orchestrating a mass suppression of the opposition as has been implied by our opponents and the news media.

"We support the free and fair conduct of elections in all of Sudan and continue to fight for the marginalized people and all Sudanese through our implementation of the CPA and the leadership of a legislature and government that is comprised of not one political party, but many.

- - -

Related reports

Ref: On Thursday 15 April 2010 several news sources reported that nine (9) people were killed in W. Bahr el Ghazal state. According to Dr Itto's report above, five (5) people were in fact killed in Timsah payam of Raja county in Western Bahr-El-Ghazal state, southern Sudan

SPLA denies killing NCP members in Raja County
From Sudan Tribune by Manyang Mayom

Friday 16 April 2010:

April 15, 2010 (RUMBEK) — The Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) official spokesman Maj-Gen. Kuol Diem Kuol has strongly denied SPLA involvement in the death of five members belonging to the National Congress Party (NCP) who were killed in Western Bahr-El-Ghazal state at Al-Timsha Payam of Raja county yesterday by an SPLA armed man who appeared in military uniform.

UN-sponsored Radio Miraya FM-101 broadcast this news item on Thursday, quoting NCP official Agnes Lukudu, chief of the party in South Sudan, who claimed that five members of her party were killed by SPLA soldiers at the polling canter in Al-Timsha payam of Raja county of Wau.

Maj –Gen. Kuol Deim Kuol denied her version of the the story saying that "this story was reported by NCP – what happened was an adultery case, it has nothing to do with election and it has nothing to do with politics. Somebody called Abdul found someone having committed adultery with is wife in his house during the midday – this is criminal issue and people should not mix crimes with politics."

"I don’t know what is happening to the people? Why everybody who has made sure to have failed in this election holds SPLA as a scapegoat? Those of who you take SPLA harassment as a solution are making a great mistake –it is a shame to take SPLA harassment for defeat in election and I want to tell them that they must be courageous toward their election – SPLA is not harassing any candidates," he noted.

The SPLA spokesman was speaking to our correspondent by phone from Juba. Along with his message the SPLM Deputy Secretary General Dr. Anne Itto on Thursday issued a strongly worded rebuke of media that had publicized this incident. She said that five rather than nine people were killed and added, “Without checking their facts, Reuters inaccurately reported a claim by NCP that among the nine dead in Raja, included the local president of NCP. I spoke to him from Wau about two hours ago and I can assure you that he is alive and well.”

“A criminal investigation has been opened regarding these killings, which are not election-related. Such information has been independently verified by numerous sources to include election observers, and local police and government officials. Attempts by NCP to link SPLM to this crime of passion is irresponsible. It is also irresponsible for journalists to include such accusations in their reporting without exercising discretion over their validity,” stated Itto.

Meanwhile, Commissioner of Raja County Luwis Ramadan has confirmed that the killings were driven by personal motivation and not political. The Raja county official confirmed that the killings happened five days ago and he questioned the NCP leader’s motive for withholding the announcement until now well after the incident is over in people’s minds.

SPLM state secretary spokesman Cde James Deng Dimo affirmed that it has been confirmed that at least five men were killed in Raga County of Western Bahr-El-Ghazal State in Timsha Payam in Raja County. Deng explained that the fighting that resulted in the killings had no connection with the elections process nor even occurred near to any polling station there in Al-Timsha.

The official explained that fighting started when a solider who had spent six months away from his family returned back from where he was deployed and caught his wife with another man. And then the man who was away began stabbing with a knife the man who had taken his wife. When the news reached the relatives of the man who was killed, they began by cocking their guns and running to the place where their relative was killed.

He added that they began by firing guns at those who were there until they killed five people. "I have to repeat that the fight has no connection with the elections or something to do with political; it is between the military men over a woman."

Dimo concluded that this incident has not affected the voting in Al-Timsha.

In a separate report, SPLA spokesman Kuol Deim Kuol denied a report that he suggested was spread by a woman who is on the election staff in Northern Bhar-El-Ghazal state (NBGS). Her statement broadcast on Miraya FM had suggested that SPLA has arrested the representative of a political party in NBGS. "First of all I want to underline, SPLA did not and will not arrest any official staff and we did not arrest any party official in NBGS."

Kuol explained that "whom we have arrested are SPLA officers and NCOs plus other enlisted personnel who are being misused by the independent candidate in NBGS."

"There are officers and NCOs and men being used by an independent candidate Deng Aturjong, and Athuar Akueng plus other independent candidates in NBGS — those guy are using SPLA soldiers to campaign for them."

Maj-Gen. Kuol asserted that participation in politics is not allowed in the SPLA and so under the present circumstances the SPLA division commander in Wunyiek asked approval to arrest those soldiers involved. The SPLA general headquarters in Juba granted him approval to arrest those soldiers. (ST)

Sudan election violence kills at least 5 in south
From The Associated Press (Khartoum, Sudan)
Thursday, 15 April 2010 - excerpt:

A statement from the ruling National Congress party said southern soldiers killed five of its supporters Wednesday in the southern province of Western Bahr el-Ghazal. A party spokesman said nine were killed. The discrepancy could not immediately be reconciled.

Nine killed in south Sudan
From Agence Presse France (Khartoum, Sudan)
Thursday, 15 April 2010 - via Capital FM Kenya:

KHARTOUM, Apr 15 - Sudan's southern army said nine people were killed, including a member of President Omar al-Beshir's National Congress Party, in violence on Thursday that was unrelated to nationwide elections.

Lam Akol, a candidate for the leadership of south Sudan, had said on Tuesday that two voters had been killed after the southern army opened fire at a polling station at Riak in the southern Unity State.

But the southern army said the killings actually happened in the remote village of Temsah, according to Kuol Deim Kuol, spokesman for the former rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM).

The dead, who also included seven civilians and a soldier, were slain as a result of a dispute about "adultery" that had "nothing to do with politics or elections," he added.

"A member of the NCP has committed adultery with the wife of a soldier of SPLM in the home of the soldier" who killed both of them, Kuol said.

Coming on the last day of landmark presidential, legislative and local elections, the incident led to clashes in which six NCP members were killed, before the soldier who had been cheated on committed suicide, he added.

Killings, harassment mar last day of Sudan vote
From Reuters by Skye Wheeler and Opheera McDoom
Thursday, 15 April 2010 8:59am EDT:

JUBA/KHARTOUM, Sudan (Reuters) - Sudan's ruling party said on Thursday that the southern army had killed nine people, including at least five of its officials, stoking tensions during voting in the first open elections in 24 years.

Oil-producing Sudan entered the last of a five days of presidential and legislative polls that mark a key test of stability for Africa's largest country, emerging from decades of civil war and preparing for a 2011 southern referendum on independence.

Voting has been largely peaceful, despite logistical problems and reported harassment of independent and opposition candidates.

Agnes Lokudu, head of the northern-dominated National Congress Party (NCP) in semi-autonomous south Sudan said the region's separate army had targeted and murdered at least five of its party officials and four other people earlier this week.
South Sudan's army said it was an individual crime of passion by one of their soldiers who had found the local NCP chief in bed with his wife.

"At night some (southern army) soldiers came to the home of the president of the National Congress Party in Raja, and killed him and eight other people, Lokudu said.

Raja county is in Western Bahr al-Ghazal state in a remote part of south Sudan. The attack was earlier this week.

On Thursday southern Sudanese observers said security forces had removed 19 monitors from polling stations, assaulting one.

Analysts said the violence was a worrying sign of rising tensions as the polls enter the crucial stage of counting, which begins on Friday. Results are due by April 20.

"The coming days are really when things are going to potentially get heated," said Maggie Fick, an analyst from the U.S.-based Enough project.

"Maybe these are isolated incidents but the last thing we need is out of control security personnel and that could easily happen in the coming stages."

The ex-southern rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) head Salva Kiir, is likely to retain his title of south Sudan president, vital ahead of a January 2011 southern vote on independence which many expect to result in secession.

A wave of boycotts by political parties in much of the north left little doubt the NCP's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir would win the national presidential elections. Facing an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for war crimes in Darfur, he hopes a victory would legitimize his rule.

Darfur's U.N.-African Union peacekeepers (UNAMID) confirmed that four of its South African police component were abducted in the western region wracked by a seven-year uprising.

On Thursday a group purporting to be the kidnappers of the two men and two women told Reuters they wanted a ransom of around $450,000 but gave no further details.

HARASSMENT OF COMPETITION

But in both north and south Sudan, the two dominant parties have been rattled by competition from independent or opposition candidates in some of the simultaneous elections for state and national parliaments and 24 state governors.

Many opposition and independent candidates have complained of harassment by authorities in both the south and north.

"There has been intimidation against supporters who are being told if they support me they will be arrested, that after the general elections are over they will kill supporters of the independent candidates," said Adil Senderi, an independent candidate for the largely separate southern Sudan parliament.

Senderi was just one of many independent candidates, opposition groups and Sudanese election monitors decrying what they said was an attempt to alter the outcome of the vote by ruling powers in both the north and south.

The African Center for Justice and Peace Studies said "systemic mechanisms to confuse the electorate and hinder engagement, such as the switching of symbols and manipulation of the registration list, are beginning to emerge."

In Khartoum, two members of youth activism group Girifna said they were beaten by NCP officials on Wednesday.

"They were beating us and we were begging the police around the voting station for help -- but they did not intervene," Nagla Sid Ahmed told Reuters.

International observers from the Carter Center and the European Union cannot comment until after the elections, But former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has made largely positive comments about the voting process.

Sudan ruling party says nine members killed in south
From Reuters CANADA - Thursday, 15 April 2010 3:36am EDT
(Reporting by Skye Wheeler; Writing by Opheera McDoom; Editing by Michael Roddy)
JUBA, Sudan - Sudan's ruling party said Thursday that the southern army had killed nine of its officials during the first open elections in 24 years...

Sudan ruling party says nine killed in south
From Reuters AlertNet - Thursday, 15 April 2010 10:54:01 GMT - full report:
(Reporting by Skye Wheeler; Writing by Opheera McDoom; Editing by Robert Woodward) - Source: Reuters (Adds detail, southern army comments, clarifies casualties)

JUBA, Sudan, April 15 (Reuters) - Sudan's ruling party said on Thursday the southern army had killed at least five of its officials and four other people during the first open elections in 24 years.

Agnes Lokudu, head of the northern-dominated National Congress Party in semi-autonomous south Sudan, had earlier said all nine killed were party officials, and that the murders were politically motivated.

The south Sudanese army (SPLA) said the deaths were the result of a crime of passion by one of its soldiers.

"At night some (southern army) soldiers came to the home of the president of the National Congress Party in Raja, and killed him and eight other people," Lokudu said.

Raja county is in Western Bahr al-Ghazal state in a remote part of south Sudan.

Sudan's elections entered the last day of a five-day voting period on Thursday and have been largely free from major violence. Opposition boycotts in much of the north left little competition for incumbent President Omar Hassan al-Bashir.

But tension has been high in the south between parties and independents opposing the SPLM who have complained of arrests and harassment.

Lokudu said the killings happened some days ago but that people in the area had been too scared to report them.

Because most people voted for the NCP "the (army) got very angry and they shot him (the local president)," Lokudu said.

The southern army said one SPLA soldier had caught the NCP's top official in the village of Tensah in Raja county committing adultery with his wife, so he shot them both and six other "Arabs" who tried to stop him.

"This is clearly an adultery case and nothing to do with elections and politics. The NCP is just trying to politicise it," said SPLA spokesman Kuol Diem Kuol.

The ex-rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) dominates the southern government and its leader Salva Kiir, who is also south Sudan's president, is likely to win the presidential vote in the semi-autonomous region.

Sudanese are voting in presidential, legislative and gubernatorial elections supposed to transform the oil producer into a democracy, a key part of a 2005 north-south peace deal which ended more than two decades of civil war.

Under the accord, southern Sudanese will also vote in a January 2011 referendum on independence. (Reporting by Skye Wheeler; Writing by Opheera McDoom; Editing by Robert Woodward)

Sudan ruling party says nine members killed in south
From Reuters UK - Thursday, 15 April 2010 8:34am BST
(Reporting by Skye Wheeler; Writing by Opheera McDoom; Editing by Michael Roddy):
JUBA, Sudan - Sudan's ruling party said on Thursday that the southern army had killed nine of its officials during the first open elections in 24 years...

Sudan 'poll shooting' kills nine
From Al Jazeera (Al Jazeera and Agencies)
Thursday, 15 April 2010 - excerpt:

Speaking as the five-day presidential, parliamentary and local polls came to an end on Thursday, Agnes Lokudu, the head of the National Congress Party in south Sudan, blamed the killing on the region's local military.

"Three days ago at night some southern army soldiers came to the home of the president of the National Congress Party (NCP) in Raja, and killed him and eight other members of the NCP," Lokuda said.

Lokudu said the killings in Western Bahr al-Ghazal state were motivated by anger that many people in the area had voted for the NCP.

"This was a passionate crime to do with a wife - a feud that led to a shooting between the husband and lover," Suzanne Jambo, the head of the SPLM's external relations office, said. "This is not political."



The NCP claims that nine of its members were killed by southern army soldiers in election violence [Reuters]

Report: Sudanese elections turn deadly
From United Press International (Khartoum, Sudan)
Thursday, 15 April 2010 - excerpt:

Sudanese newspapers indicate nine members of the National Congress Party were killed in south Sudan, a report disputed by the Sudan People's Liberation Army.

Newspapers in Khartoum Thursday quoted NCP officials as saying, "(The) killing was committed by a member of the SPLA in the wake of altercations on the polling process," China's government-run news agency, Xinhua, reported.

"Nine NCP leading members were killed on Tuesday at Tumsah administrative unit in Raja ... in south Sudan after altercations with a member of the SPLA, the military arm of Sudan People's Liberation Movement," al-Ray al-A'm newspaper reported Thursday.

Xinhua said an SPLA military official disputed the incident.

"Such incident has never taken place. It is a fabricated and baseless story," the source told Xinhua. "The fabricated killing story comes as part of political harassment and it is an extension of a series of accusations by the ruling party to distort the SPLA and SPLM."

No incidents of violence were reported Thursday, the last day of polling in Sudan's general elections.

[Note from Sudan Watch Ed: It seems UPI has deleted its report and replaced it with another entitled "Ban applauds Sudan elections"]

Electoral Violence As Sudan Polls Close
From Enough Project at www.enoughproject.org
By Amanda Hsiao, Thursday 15 April 2010 - excerpt:

As five days of intense balloting for hundreds of government seats across 16,000 polling centers came to a close today in Sudan, simmering tensions, a reminder of the tremendous potential for violence that still remains, began to emerge in the largely peaceful exercise.

Violence broke out in the westernmost corner of South Sudan, where soldiers in the South Sudanese army, or SPLA, shot and killed nine individuals, five of whom were officials of the ruling party, the NCP. The motivations for the killings are unclear—the SPLA claims it was an act of personal vengeance—but the timing of the act, as voters were going to the polling stations to vote between the two political rivals, should not be overlooked. [...]

Fighting also broke out at a polling center in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, in South Sudan. According to an undisclosed source, SPLA soldiers clashed with locals at a voting station and nine independent candidates were arrested. On the same day, an SPLM candidate reportedly interfered with the ballot boxes. [...]

- - -

Ref: On Tuesday 13 April 2010, Lam Akol went to the media to claim that two of his supporters in Unity State, southern Sudan had been killed by SPLM soldiers, and implied that this was done in coordination with SPLM

Two voters killed, one candidate wounded in South Sudan: opposition leader
From English.news.cn - Wednesday, 14 April 2010:

KHARTOUM, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Two voters were killed and a candidate was wounded in the Unity State in South Sudan on Tuesday, the third polling day in Sudan's general elections, an opposition leader said.

"Two voters were killed and a candidate was wounded when the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) soldiers opened fire on the voters at a polling station in the Unity State," Lam Akol, the chairman of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-Democratic Change (SPLM-DC), told Xinhua here on Tuesday.

The SPLA is the military arm of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), the dominant party in South Sudan.

Akol, the only candidate contesting against SPLM Chairman Salva Kiir Mayardit for the post of South Sudan government president, went on saying that "the SPLA opened fire randomly, which resulted in the deaths of two voters and injury of one candidate."

Akol slammed at the SPLM, saying "the ministers and commissioners belonging to the SPLM and SPLA are intervening in the polling operations and threatening the citizens."

He added that commissioners of western and eastern Bahral- Ghazal states took the ballot boxes to their homes.

He called on Sudan's National Elections Commission (NEC) to take necessary measures to protect the voters and prevent the harassment made by the SPLM supporters.

No comment so far has been made by the South Sudan government or the SPLM on the incident.

The former rebel SPLM in South Sudan signed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) with Khartoum in 2005 to end a two-decade civil war between the north and the south, and has become a partner of the ruling National Congress Party in the current Sudanese government.

Editor: Mu Xuequan

Lam Akol says two SLPM-DC members killed in Unity State
From Sudan Tribune - Wednesday, 14 April 2010 - excerpt:

April 13, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — Lam Akol, a candidate for the presidency of south Sudan government and leader of SPLM Democratic Change (SPLM-DC) said on Tuesday that two voters had been killed after the southern army opened fire at a polling station in Unity State.

"I was informed by telephone that at 11 am (0800 GMT), the southern army went to a polling station in Riak in (the southern) Unity State and opened fire, killing two voters and wounding one candidate," said Lam Akol, who is challenging southern leader Salva Kiir in elections for the head of the semi-autonomous government of south Sudan.

The report could not immediately be confirmed by independent sources.

- - -

Postscript

THANKS to Ndesanjo Macha for bringing to our attention 'Sudan Sham Elections 2010 Campaign' sudansham2010.org - and its new phase in activism at http://ionsudan.net/ in his commentary at Global Voices Friday, 16 April 2010 entitled Sudan: Using the web to promote fair elections, justice and democracy.

Note, according to the About page at website 'Sudan Sham Elections 2010 Campaign':

"We are regular citizens around the 50 United States and DC, standing with the people of Sudan—the marginalized, the disenfranchised, and the brutally oppressed—in demanding truth and strength. An indicted war criminal, responsible for millions of deaths, will never be a legitimate leader. Peace, protection, and justice will come from strength in effort and conviction from our leaders.

The Sudan Sham Elections 2010 network is committing to sustained action for peace in Sudan. Our new phase in activism is i On Sudan. Please participate!

iOnSudan.net

i On Sudan connects on-the-ground reports of violence, abuses, and other events to advocacy in the United States and around the world to immediately mobilize leaders towards immediate response on behalf of innocent civilians and to promote peace, protection, and justice in all of Sudan."

Swiss military observers to go to Sudan

Military observers to go to southern Sudan
From swissinfo.ch and agencies, Wednesday, 28 April 2010:

(Switzerland) - The government has agreed to allow unarmed military observers to be sent to the United Nations mission in Sudan (Unmis), the defence ministry said on Wednesday.

The UN last month requested two observers to join the peacekeeping mission to carry out duties including monitoring, reporting and mediation in tense situations.

Since the UN is likely to submit further similar requests, the government decided to approve the dispatch of up to four observers.

Unmis was established in 2005 to oversee the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) which ended more than 20 years of civil war between north and south Sudan. The CPA gave the south a large measure of autonomy and provided for a referendum on independence, which is due to be held in 2011.

The task of Unmis is to provide humanitarian help, monitor the observance of human rights and support the reform of the security forces, the establishment of a legal system and the restructuring of the police.

It is separate from the joint UN and African Union mission in Darfur, Unamid, for which Switzerland has also agreed to dispatch four unarmed observers.

The Sudanese government has limited the allocation of visas to westerners attached to Unamid, and therefore no Swiss has been sent yet. However, westerners attached to Unmis have not had visa problems.

swissinfo.ch and agencies

Arman: SPLM will participate in the next government - Salva Kiir will be the First Vice President of the Republic of Sudan

Three news reports from SRS - Sudan Radio Service, Tuesday 27 April 2010:

The GOSS president-elect says the general elections have given southerners the right to choose who should determine their future through the referendum in January 2011

Tuesday 27 April 2010 - (Juba) - Salva Kiir was addressing reporters in Juba on Monday shortly after he was declared the winner of GOSS presidential race.

[Salva Kiir]: “The exercise you have just performed is one of the major processes embedded in the Sudan Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed on January 9th, 2005. These elections have given the Sudanese people in general and southern Sudanese in particular a golden opportunity to decide by themselves who should run their affairs and prepare them and determine their future through the referendum in January 2011.”

Kiir said the task is too demanding for one man and called on southerners to join him on the mission.

[Salva Kiir]: “Compatriots, the trust you have bestowed on me represents a heavy burden of responsibility. However, with God’s help I shall endeavor to be worthy of that trust. With humility, allow me to say that this task is too demanding a task for one man. I Salva Kiir as a person cannot take it on myself alone. Thus, I call upon all southern Sudanese to join me on this mission and together we shall certainly succeed.”

Salva Kiir was addressing reporters in Juba on Monday.

The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement has confirmed that it will participate in the national government to be formed despite its withdrawal from the elections in northern Sudan

Tuesday 27 April 2010 - (Khartoum) - Following the announcement of the final results of the general elections in Khartoum on Monday, the SPLM deputy secretary-general for the Northern Sector, Yasir Arman, addressed a press conference.

[Yasir Arman]: “The SPLM will participate in the next government. Together with the SPLM chairman we have formed and assigned a group to study this task. It is worth noting that constitutionally the President of the Government of Southern Sudan is the first Vice President. This is a constitutional issue. Now Salva Kiir will be the First Vice President of the Republic. There are members of parliament elected from southern Sudan, Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile who are SPLM members and have won seats in the national assembly. We will discuss with the NCP and others the basis on which the SPLM will participate in the next central government and the SPLM’s participation will be the right by rule of law and not as a gift from the NCP. This is a constitutional right and southern Sudan must participate in the central government.”

Arman says he will defend the right to hold a referendum on self-determination for the people of southern Sudan.

[Yasir Arman]: “I would like to urge the national democratic intellectuals all over the Sudan to stand firmly so that the people of southern Sudan have the right to vote on self-determination whatever the results may be. It is only the dark forces that would stand against the right of southern Sudanese to decide the issue of self-determination and we must all stand against the dark forces and the forces of war because whoever attempts to waive the right to self-determination is calling for war and not peace. Peace can only be guaranteed when there is the right to self-determination for southern Sudan. As such, I am greatly honored to be at the forefront to defend the right of southern Sudanese to have the self-determination referendum conducted on time.”

Yasir Arman was speaking at a press conference in Khartoum on Monday.

A group of nine political parties calling themselves the Alliance of South-South Dialogue has welcomed the victory of the National Congress Party’s presidential candidate, Omar Al-Bashir

Tuesday 27 April 2010 - (Khartoum) - The presidential Advisor for African Affairs and a senior member of South Sudan Democratic Forum, Bona Malwal, addressed a press conference in Khartoum on Tuesday.

[Bona Malwal-Arabic]: “We support the results of the victory of the president despite that we are not happy because our people in Southern Sudan were not allowed to express their feelings towards the president because we are sure that if people in the South were allowed to express their feelings, Al-Bashir is somebody great for the people in southern Sudan because he was the one who brought them peace. And my brothers and sisters as you all know peace for Southern Sudan is a great thing, a person who brought them peace they love him so much that was why Al-Bashir was accorded tumultuous receptions in Southern Sudan and despite all that the people of Southern Sudan were not allowed to express their good and happy feelings towards the president because people were pushed away by the SPLA soldiers and they were forcing the voters to vote for the people they wanted that was why the presidential elections results in the south was no satisfactory even to us. But thanks be to God that President Al-Bashir is the one who won and we have accepted this result but we vehemently reject the elections results in Southern Sudan.”

Mister Bona Malwal, Presidential Advisor for African Affairs and a senior member of SSDF was addressing the press in Khartoum on Tuesday.

With special thanks from Sudan Watch to SRS &
Charles Haskins
News Programming Advisor
Sudan Radio Service (SRS)
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Rising cases of meningitis reported in Garida and South Nyala in S. Darfur - Meningitis cases rise to 120 in W. Darfur

From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, Wednesday, 21 April 2010:

(Garida) – Rising cases of meningitis have been reported in Garida and South Nyala payams in Southern Darfur State.

Speaking to SRS from Garida payam on Tuesday, the Minister of Health in Southern Darfur state, Mohammed Haroun Ahmed, confirmed the cases.

[Mohammed Haroun Ahmed]: “Cases of meningitis had been discovered in Southern Darfur. In Nyala south we have discovered five cases. The Ministry of Health in the state in cooperation with other organizations such as UNICEF and WHO managed to vaccinate around 60 thousand citizens in South Nyala and at the moment things are under control. However we are still concerned about Garida because more cases have been discovered there. We are going to send a team there tomorrow to vaccinate the people there”

Northern Darfur State Minister of health, Khalid Ali Alfagiri told SRS that his ministry is adequately prepared to curb the break out state.

[Khalid Fagiri Arabic]: “We suspect that there could be some cases present in northern Darfur State. We have done some tests and we are yet to confirm when the results are out. For now, everything is under control. We have enough drugs that have been distributed all over and most of the hospitals are also ready just in case something happens”

Besides Northern and southern Darfur states, meningitis cases have also been reported in Al-Jazeera and Kasala regions.

Meningitis cases rise to 120 in West Darfur
From Radio Dabanga, Tuesday, 27 April 2010:

(El Geneina) - The number of meningitis cases in West Darfur has risen to 120, according to the health ministry. Jamal Ramadan, the state minister of health, told Radio Dabanga that there were 95 cases in El Geneina, the capital. He added that there is a campaign to combat the disease in all localities. People in the state have expressed fear of spread of the disease because of lack of health care.

- - -

The Glass Test



Spots or a rash will still be seen when the side of a clear drinking glass is pressed firmly against the skin

A fever, together with spots or a rash that do not fade under pressure, is a medical emergency.

What is meningitis?

Meningitis is inflammation of the meninges, the linings that surround and protect the brain. It can be caused by many different organisms including bacteria, viruses and fungi. Vaccines are the only way to prevent meningitis, and until we have vaccines to prevent all types you need to know the signs and symptoms to look out for and the action to take.

Septicaemia (blood poisoning) is caused when bacteria enter the bloodstream and multiply uncontrollably. Meningococcal bacteria can cause both meningitis and septicaemia. Together these are known as meningococcal disease.

Most cases of meningitis happen alone, but when there is a case of meningococcal disease, there is a small chance that further cases can happen. To reduce the risk of further cases people who have been in close contact may be offered antibiotics.

Photo and text courtesy of www.meningitis-trust.org
- - -

Septicaemic rash on black skin

A septicaemic rash can be harder to see on dark skin, so check for spots over the whole body, especially on paler areas like palms of the hands, the soles of the feet, on the stomach, inside the eyelids (conjunctiva) and on the roof of the mouth (palate).

Source: www.meningitis.org/symptoms/young-people [Click into the link to see symptoms. Note, symptoms can appear in any order. Someone who feels really ill needs medical help even if they have no rash or a rash that fades. Not everyone gets all these symptoms. Septicaemia can occur with or without meningitis]

UNAMID: Darfur peacekeepers released

UNAMID peacekeepers released
From United Nations – African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID)
EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan, Tuesday, 27 April 2010/APO:

Four UNAMID peacekeepers from South Africa were today safely released after being held in captivity for 16 days.

“We are grateful to have our colleagues back with us. This day would not have been possible, had it not been for the good cooperation of the Government of the Sudan and the local authorities of South Darfur,” said UNAMID Joint Special Representative (JSR) Ibrahim Gambari, who was in Nyala to greet the released peacekeepers.

”I am proud of the courage and resilience displayed by our colleagues throughout these trying circumstances,” said the JSR. “I certainly hope that this is the last time that peacekeepers, both military, police and civilians, who are here to bring peace and stability to the people of Darfur, are subjected to such unacceptable ordeals.”

The news comes a day after a one-on-one meeting held yesterday between Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and JSR Gambari, at which the Sudanese leader had pledged to do everything possible to assist in bringing about the safe return of the UNAMID personnel.

The police advisors, two men and two women, were abducted in Nyala on 11 April. After undergoing medical examinations, the officers will be flown to their home country, where they will be reunited with their families.

UPDATE: Tuesday, 11 May 2010 - FOUR PHOTOS: 26 April 2010 - Release of the 4 South African Peacekeepers in Nyala, after 16 days captivity. They are welcome by UNAMID JSR Gambari, DJSR Yonis and the South African Police Commissioner Fryer. Pictures: UNAMID - Olivier Chassot. (Courtesy: UNAMID website)

MSF responds to violence in Bentiu, Unity State, S. Sudan (Update 1)

MSF in place to respond to violence in Bentiu, Southern Sudan
From MSF (Doctors Without Borders) Monday, 26 April 2010:

On Saturday morning, following an appeal from the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Bentiu, Unity State, Southern Sudan, the international medical organisation Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) mobilised a medical team to evacuate three patients suffering from gunshot wounds. The patients were severely wounded during protests in Bentiu which occurred on Friday, following local radio announcements of the winner of the governorship race in Unity State.

The patients were stabilised by MoH staff in Bentiu hospital before being transferred to MSF medics who evacuated them by plane to the MSF run surgical hospital in Leer, Unity State, 110 km south of Bentiu. In Leer hospital a surgical team, which was on standby, received and operated on the patients for their life threatening conditions.

“Our surgical teams have been on standby in Southern Sudan for eventualities such as these.” said Ross Duffy, MSF head of mission, “It was fortunate for these patients that we had a plane in the vicinity and were able to respond quickly. Our surgical and logistical teams, in collaboration with the MoH, remain prepared to respond to any emergencies.”

In recent weeks MSF has strengthened its existing surgical capacity with additional surgeons and anaesthetists as well as pre-positioning surgical equipment and materials in key locations.

The emergency medical humanitarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has been working in Sudan since 1979. The organisation currently has permanent projects in Red Sea State, Northern Darfur, Western and Central Equatoria, Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal, Warrap, Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile States and the transitional area of Abyei. MSF also runs emergency projects in other areas. MSF is an independent and neutral aid agency that serves all people based on medical need, regardless of tribe, race, political or religious affiliation.

From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, Wednesday, 21 April 2010:

(Blue Nile) – The National Elections Commission has denied media reports of elections irregularities in Blue Nile and Unity states.

The Sudan Tribune earlier reported that NEC officials from Bentiu, Unity state are complaining of harassment from security officers of the candidate for governorship in the state Taban Deng.

It was alleged that the officers had stormed NEC offices, forcing the officials to declare Taban as the winner.

In Blue Nile state, SPLM and NCP candidates are both claiming victory over the governorship seat, accusing each other of doctoring results in their favor.

However, NEC chairman of the technical committee, Alhadi Mohamed Ahmed has disputed such reports.

[Alhadi Mohamed Ahmed]:“All information published about the Blue Nile is completely untrue, now there is a committee by NEC meeting with Malik Agar and the high elections committee for Blue Nile, no result is out because the monitoring process is still continuing and the work, but this work needs great efforts, today I was speaking with Bentiu, they are working, I talk with the chairman of the high elections committee in Bentiu, we don’t have any problem, I mean not any talk is true i was talking this morning with officials in Bentiu, they were working, the high committee is counting and other works, there are tension hear and there, but the issues are moving well.”

Al-hadi urged citizens to rely on official announcement from the NEC and not rumors.

[Alhadi Mohamed Ahmed]: “We can’t rely on anything that is said. If there is forgery just present evidence, I can’t talk about anything without prove. Who has come out and said there is forgery in such a polling center and presented evidence to NEC, and we didn’t take action? That will mean failure from our part. But till now nobody has launch an official complain claiming forgery in any center. These talks, these are just newspaper rumors. I can’t listen to such talks and say it is true. The media is open for every one, but not everything said in the media is reliable.”

Media reports have indicated several elections violations in Blue Nile and Unity States.

From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, Monday, 26 April 2010:

(Khartoum) – The independent candidate for the governorship of Unity state, Angelina Teny, says she vehemently rejects the results of the elections in Unity state.

A media spokesman for Angelina Teny, Yohanis Musa Pouk, addressed a press conference in Khartoum on Saturday.

[Yohanis Musa Pouk]: “At around 4 o’clock [on Friday] Taban declared on the state’s local radio station that he was the winner. The announcement was not made through the National Elections Commission but through one of the radio announcers. He declared that Taban won the elections and said that was the announcement coming from the NEC. Following that announcement, our people went to the street collectively and spontaneously in a non-violent manner because nobody told the people of Unity state that there was going to be any announcement of the results. They went out spontaneously and found themselves together going to the radio station to inquire about the source of the news. They were surprised by soldiers from Sudan People’s Liberation Army who fired live bullets randomly at the moving crowd and instantly two people were shot dead. One is called Choul Ruai from Koch county and the other is called Gadwich. We were not able to get his second name. Four people were hospitalized and there were other people who sustained minor injuries.”

Pouk said the people of Unity state will never accept Taban Deng as a governor.

[Yohanis Musa Pouk]: “We are seeing that it is impossible as we are going towards the year 2011 that Taban will be the governor of Unity state. Nobody in Unity state has this in mind and nobody will accept it, but this issue will not end in one day. No citizen would be able to vote for Taban. Those who voted for him are those working in the government: ministers, wives of the ministers and those in the assembly who are with him, in addition to the votes that were rigged. No ordinary citizen will ever accept that Taban should continue in power. This is not the end of it; let’s not think that this is the end of everything and that the results have been announced, no. we don’t believe in these results because they are neither “free nor fair” and we are waiting for what will come from Juba - not from Bentiu.”

Pouk claimed that according to the statistics he had received from various constituencies, Angelina Teny won 68,000 votes while Taban Deng won 44,000 votes.

Photo: Angelina Teny. Source: Sudan Tribune report, Monday, 26 April 2010 - Angelina Teny says will not accept "rigged" and "untrue" election results - excerpt:

April 25, 2010 (JUBA) – Several political parties whose candidates also contested for the governorship position in Unity state have joined Angelina Teny in disputing the results, saying Taban’s victory was not based on the actual results reported by their respective agents from all the centers which ballot papers were counted.

They have called on the Chairman of the National Elections Commission (NEC) Abel Alier to intervene and correct the situation.

The parties in a joint released statement said there were widespread rigging in the polling process and called for a re-count of the ballot papers.

An official close to Mrs. Teny’s campaign team said she may consider challenging the results legally in the court of law and win the case.

Mrs. Teny is the current state minister of Energy and Mining in the Government of National Unity in Khartoum and wife of the Vice President of the Government of Southern Sudan, Dr. Riek Machar Teny.

Related reports

SPLM lauds election of Malik Aggar as Blue Nile State Governor
From Sudan Tribune, Tuesday, 27 April 2010 by Ngor Arol Garang:
April 26, 2010 (WUNROK) - Pagan Amum, Secretary General of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement and his deputy for northern Sudan Yasir Arman have lauded election of the Malik Agar as new governor of the northern state of Southern Blue Nile (...)

Journalist arrested by security operatives in Bentiu, Unity state
From Sudan Tribune, Monday, 26 April 2010 by James Gatdet Dak:
(JUBA) – A local journalist working as correspondent for Sudanvotes and Bentiu FM radio station has been (...)

Three people killed following Taban Deng declared win in Unity state
From Sudan Tribune, Saturday, 24 April 2010 - excerpt:

April 23, 2010 (Khartoum) - Three people were killed and two others were wounded when protests were staged in the state capital Bentiu by supporters of Angelina Teny who has formally lost the race for governor in the oil-rich state.

Earlier today, the local Radio FM station in Bentiu announced that the local electoral committee declared the incumbent governor Taban Deng Gai as the winner in the tight and highly tense race. The National Elections Commission (NEC) expressed fury over what they saw as a premature move by the local electoral officials.

The NEC chairman Abel Alier said that this was not coordinated with the head office in Khartoum. He phoned Teny, wife of south Sudan’s vice president Riek Machar, to say that no final results have been released noting that the NEC is in the process of looking into the alleged inflating of figures in favor of Taban Deng by the electoral office in Bentiu before it could make the decision on who won the race.

But later in the day the NEC officially announced that Deng garnered 137,362 of the votes against 63,561 for Teny.

The chairman of the local electoral committee in Bentiu, Michael Mayul, on Friday rushed to announce Deng as the winner in a move seen by some as a way to try to avoid the verification of figures by the NEC team in Khartoum.

Preliminary results had shown that Angelina Teny got more than 68,000 votes while Taban Deng got over 44,000. The recently alleged inflated figures for Taban have more than tripled his previous votes counted by additional 56,000.

Teny had earlier warned that the electoral committee in Bentiu was under pressure by Deng to inflate his votes figures and announce him the winner.

Taban Deng locally announced winner in Sudan’s Unity state
From Sudan Tribune, Friday, 23 April 2010:
April 23, 2010 (BENTINU) – News just broke out from the local Radio FM station in Bentiu, that the incumbent governor Taban Deng Gai has been announced as winner by the head of the local electoral committee in Bentiu, before NEC committee carried out their verifications (...)
- - -

More related reports (added here on Wednesday, 28 April 2010)

BREAKING NEWS: Angelina Teny’s campaign team leader arrested in Unity State
Sudan Tribune - Wednesday 21 April 2010:
April 22, 2010 (BENTIU, Unity State) – Angelina Teny today (Wednesday) told Sudan Tribune that her team leader was arrested in front of the State High Elections Committee’s office in the presence of senior ranking officers and the team sent today from Khartoum by the National Elections Commission (NEC) headquarters...

BREAKING NEWS: Taban Deng seizes NEC office in Bentiu, refuses to accept defeat
Sudan Tribune - Tuesday 20 April 2010 - copy in full:

April 20, 2010 (BENTIU, Unity state) – The incumbent caretaker governor of the oil-rich Unity state has refused to accept defeat in the gubernatorial elections, threatening the State High Elections Committee to declare him the winner irrespective of results.

The overall results received by the electoral body in the state have shown that his main challenger, Angelina Teny, is far ahead of him by more than 24,000 extra votes.

An official close to NEC office in Bentiu who spoke on condition of anonymity told Sudan Tribune that governor’s security officers had controlled the NEC’s branch office and were conducting forceful dialogue with the electoral staff, threatening them to declare Taban as winner.

He said senior officials in the state were consulting with the President of the Government of Southern Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit to intervene and allow for the free and fair announcement of the gubernatorial results in the state.

“Taban Deng Gai should be told to accept defeat in a democratic and peaceful atmosphere,” the official added.

The gubernatorial candidates were scheduled to sign for the elections results today (Tuesday) in the NEC’s office during which losers were expected to accept defeat before announcement of the winner.

State officials across the country were also making consultations to respond to the situation and avoid any resort to violence until the issue is resolved peacefully. (ST)

Unity state’s Angelina Teny leads in preliminary gubernatorial election results
Sudan Tribune - Saturday, 17 April 2010:
April 16, 2010 (BENTIU, Unity state) – An independent candidate for gubernatorial position in the oil-rich Unity state is said to be leading by wide margin in preliminary counts as polling centers in the state’s nine counties slowly report in their respective results...

Unity state’s gubernatorial candidate reports widespread irregularities
Sudan Tribune - Monday 12 April 2010:
Speaking to Sudan Tribune from the state’s capital, Bentiu, Teny accused the SPLA Maj. General Dor Monyjur in particular for blocking her agents from inspecting the ballot boxes in order to make sure that they were empty...

Gubernatorial candidate campaigns against corruption in Bentiu
Sudan Tribune - Wednesday 24 February 2010 by Ngor Arol Garang:
February 23, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — An independent gubernatorial candidate in the southern state of Unity, Angelina Teny has embarked on her electoral campaign in the area with a strong focus on fighting against corruption saying it cripples development and stability of any country...

Musa Hilal wins parliament seat in Sudan - Arop Madut retains MP seat for Abyei

Janjaweed leader wins parliament seat in Sudan
From Radio Dabanga, Monday, 26 April 2010:

(Khartoum) - Musa Hilal, a prominent leader of Janjaweed militia, has won a seat in the National Assembly. This was announced by the National Elections Commission.

Hilal is paramount chief of the Um Jalul clan of the Mahameed Arab tribe in North Darfur. His alleged role in atrocities committed in Darfur led to a UN Security Council resolution in 2006 that put him under a travel ban and asset freeze. Despite the allegations against him, in 2008 he was appointed by President Bashir as special advisor at the Ministry of Federal Affairs.

Veteran Sudanese journalist Arop Madut retains MP seat for Abyei
From The New Sudan Vision (NSV) by Mading Ngor, Monday, 26 April 2010:

(Victoria BC NSV) - Arop Madut, the author of Sudan’s Painful Road to Peace has been elected as MP to represent Abyei in South Sudan’s Legislative Assembly, he told New Sudan Vision Monday.

Arop, who was previously representing Abyei in SSLA said he was running unopposed until “during the last days [when] one fellow calling himself a SANU representative nominated himself, and I was forced to contest, to campaign.”

Arop said the voting went peacefully in Abyei, saying the SPLM was the favourite for the electorate in the area.

Deng Alor, Deng Athieng, Arop Deng Kuol, and one other MP will represent Abyei in southern and national assemblies.

More news from Radio Dabanga:
Scores of arrests made in case of El Fasher market scam
Darfur rebel Abdel Shafi joins LJM for Doha talks
Darfur assembly candidate rejects election outcome
Kalma camp leader says 5000 new arrivals
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FACTBOX: Sudan presidential election results
From Sudan Tribune, Tuesday 27 April 2010:

SUDAN NATIONAL PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
10,114,310 valid votes cast

1. Omer Hassan Al-Bashir (National Congress Party) 68.24% - 6,901,694 votes

2. Yasir Arman (Sudan People’s Liberation Movement) 21.69% - 2,193,826 votes

3. Abdullah Deng Nhial (Popular Congress Party) 3.92% - 396,139 votes

4. Hatim Al-Sir (Democratic Unionist Party) 1.93% - 195,668 votes

5. Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi (Umma Party) 0.96% - 96,868 votes

6. Kamil Idriss (Independent) 0.76% - 77,132 votes

7. Mahmood Ahmed Jeha (Independent) 0.71% - 71,708 votes

8. Mubarak al-Fadil (Umma Reform and Renewal Party) 0.49% - 49,402 votes

9. Munir Sheikh El-din Jallab (New National Democratic Party) 0.40% - 40,277 votes

10. Abdel-Aziz Khalid (Sudanese National Alliance) 0.34%- 34,592 votes

11. Fatima Abdel-Mahmood (Sudanese Socialist Democratic Union) 0.30% - 30,562 votes

12. Mohamed Ibrahim Nugud (COMMUNIST PARTY) 0.26% - 26,442 votes

SOUTH SUDAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

2,813,830 valid votes cast

1. Salva Kiir (Sudan People’s Liberation Movement) 92.99% - 2,616,613 votes

2. Lam Akol (Sudan People’s Liberation Movement for Democratic Change) 7.01% - 197,217 votes

Sudan's presidents Bashir & Kiir re-elected - A lot of intimidation during the elections, especially in the south

Al-Bashir and Salva Kiir Reelected
From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, Monday, 26 April 2010:

(Khartoum) - Omar Hassan al-Bashir has been re-elected as President of the Republic of the Sudan.

The NEC chairman, Abel Alier, announced the results at a press conference at the Friendship Palace in Khartoum on Monday.

[Abel Alier]: “According to the result of the general elections, the winner for the post of the President of Sudan is the National Congress Party candidate, Omar Al-Bashir. He won with 6, 901, 694 votes. This is equivalent to 68.24 percent of the total votes cast. The total number of votes cast was 10,114,310 votes.”

Abel Alier also announced that Salva Kiir Mayardit was reelected as President of the Government of Southern Sudan.

[Abel Alier]: “The winner for the post of President of the Government of Southern Sudan is Salva Kiir Mayardit; he obtained 2,616,613 votes. This amounts to 92.99 percent of votes. His counterpart, Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin, received 197, 217 votes, or 7 percent of the total votes.”

The results for the governorships of six southern states were announced by the head of the NEC technical department, Alhadi Mohammed Ahmed.

[Alhadi Mohammed Ahmed]: “The winner for the governorship of Jonglei state is Kuol Manyang Juuk. For Central Equatoria state, Clement Wani Kong’a. For Eastern Equatoria, Luis Lobong Lojore. For Western Equatoria, Joseph Mario Bakosoro. In Upper Nile state it is Simon Kun and in Lakes state, Chol Tong Mayay was elected.”

Alhadi Mohammed Ahmed was announcing the results in Khartoum on Monday.

- - -

Presidents Bashir and Kiir will form a coalition government

From FT.com Monday, 26 April 2010:

Mr Bashir and Mr Kiir will form a coalition government. Some senior regime officials have said the ruling National Congress party would also be willing to include other opposition groups, including those that boycotted the polls, in order to defuse tensions and build consensus in the precarious months ahead of the southern referendum.

- - -

SPLM candidate Yasir Arman came second

From Sudan Tribune Monday, 26 April 2010:

The ruling National Congress Party (NCP) presidential candidate was declared winner with a 68.2% of the vote, the state electoral commission said on Monday.

The SPLM candidate Yasir Arman came second with 21.7%.

In the South SPLM chairman Salva Kiir got 93% of the votes. His challenger Lam Akol 7%.

- - -

From VOA Monday, 26 April 2010:

Yasir Arman, the northern secular Muslim slated by the southern-based Sudan People's Liberation Movement to challenge Mr Bashir, came in second with 22 percent, most of which came from the southern states.

- - -

Bashir says referendum in south Sudan will take place on schedule

From BBC 26 April 2010:

Speaking in a televised address after the poll result was announced, Mr Bashir said: "The referendum in south Sudan will take place on schedule."

He described his election win as a victory for "all Sudanese", and played down criticism of the poll, praising "the civilised and respectful conduct during these elections, which saw no clashes or friction".

- - -

South Sudan: Some election results are still expected

From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, Monday, 26 April 2010:

(Juba) – The Southern Sudan High Election Committee had confirmed the results for the governorships in the other four states in southern Sudan earlier in the day.

Speaking at a press conference in Juba on Monday, the leader of SSHEC, Anthony Ariki, made this announcement:

[Anthony Ariki]: “We have already received the results for four states governors: that is the governor of Unity State, Taban Deng Gai, the governor of Warrap State, Nyandeng Malek and the governor of Northern Bahr el-Ghazal State, Paul Malong Awan and the one announced yesterday, the governor of Western Bahr el-Ghazal state, Rizik Zakariah. So far, out of the ten governors of the states four results have been announced and six are still expected.”

Ariki also said the results for elections to the national assembly in two states have also been announced:

[Anthony Ariki]: “In Warrap state, six geographical constituencies for the national assembly were declared together with twenty state assembly constituencies. In Central Equatoria state, seven constituencies have been declared and more are expected.”

Ariki called on citizens to remain calm and to wait for the announcement of the final results.

Meanwhile, there is heavy deployment of policemen and security personnel all over Juba to deter any outbreak of violence following the announcement of the results.

- - -

South Sudan: Unity State - Angelina Teny v Taban Deng

From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, Monday, 26 April 2010:

(Khartoum) – The independent candidate for the governorship of Unity state, Angelina Teny, says she vehemently rejects the results of the elections in Unity state.

A media spokesman for Angelina Teny, Yohanis Musa Pouk, addressed a press conference in Khartoum on Saturday.

[Yohanis Musa Pouk]: “At around 4 o’clock [on Friday] Taban declared on the state’s local radio station that he was the winner. The announcement was not made through the National Elections Commission but through one of the radio announcers. He declared that Taban won the elections and said that was the announcement coming from the NEC. Following that announcement, our people went to the street collectively and spontaneously in a non-violent manner because nobody told the people of Unity state that there was going to be any announcement of the results. They went out spontaneously and found themselves together going to the radio station to inquire about the source of the news. They were surprised by soldiers from Sudan People’s Liberation Army who fired live bullets randomly at the moving crowd and instantly two people were shot dead. One is called Choul Ruai from Koch county and the other is called Gadwich. We were not able to get his second name. Four people were hospitalized and there were other people who sustained minor injuries.”

Pouk said the people of Unity state will never accept Taban Deng as a governor.

[Yohanis Musa Pouk]: “We are seeing that it is impossible as we are going towards the year 2011 that Taban will be the governor of Unity state. Nobody in Unity state has this in mind and nobody will accept it, but this issue will not end in one day. No citizen would be able to vote for Taban. Those who voted for him are those working in the government: ministers, wives of the ministers and those in the assembly who are with him, in addition to the votes that were rigged. No ordinary citizen will ever accept that Taban should continue in power. This is not the end of it; let’s not think that this is the end of everything and that the results have been announced, no. we don’t believe in these results because they are neither “free nor fair” and we are waiting for what will come from Juba - not from Bentiu.”

Pouk claimed that according to the statistics he had received from various constituencies, Angelina Teny won 68,000 votes while Taban Deng won 44,000 votes.

- - -

South Sudan: NEC says Malik Agar Eyre wins the gubernatorial seat in Blue Nile state

From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, Friday, 23 April 2010:

(Khartoum) – The NEC has announced Malik Agar as the winner of the gubernatorial seat in Blue Nile state.

The chairperson of the NEC technical committee, Al-Hadi Mohamed Ahmed, announced Agar’s victory in Khartoum on Thursday.

[Al-Hadi Mohamed]: “We will start announcing the results of the winners in the gubernatorial elections, in Blue Nile state, the winner is Malik Agar Eyre, the political affiliation is the SPLM. The number of votes he got is 108.119, followed by the NCP candidate Farah Ibrahim Mohamed Agar who got 99,419 votes.”

NCP had earlier announced that their candidate Farah Agar was the winner in the state.

- - -

National Election Commission Announces NCP Wining of (6) State Electoral Constituencies in North Kordofan State
From www.sudan.gov Wednesday, 21 April 2010 17:18:

The NEC has announced this afternoon 20/4/2010 in a meeting chaired by NEC, / Chairperson Mr Abel Alier in and in the presence of a number of NEC members, the results of six of State Constituencies in North Kordofan State.

General Police Mr. Al-Hadi Mohammed Ahmed-, Chairperson of the Technical Committee of Elections, said in a press conference held by the NEC today at the center of results announcement at the Friendship Hall in Khartoum in the presence of a large number of representatives of the local & international media local along with international observers , that the NEC accredited the wining of the National Congress Party’s candidates in (6) of the State constituencies as follows:-

No (1) East Al-Obeyed.
No. (5) Al-Obeyed East of railway line .
No. (5) Suburbs of Al-Obeyed.
No. (7) Abu Haraz.
No. (13) Tayba.
No. (14) The state constituency Um-Kireidim and Al-Mazroub.

General. Al-Hadi further announced the wining of the National Congress Party’s candidates in the following constituencies:-

Suleiman Ibrahim Mohamed Ahmed, Constituency No (1) East Al-Obeyed.
Mr. Al-Siddiq Abdul-Gadir Ali, Constituency No. (4) Abu Haraz.
Mr. Ezeirig Mohammed Ezeirig Constituency No. (5) Al-Obeyed Eastern railway.
Ahmed Mohmed Saleh, Constituency No. (5) Al-Obeyed. Suburbs
Al-Hassan Abdullah Al-Haj Omara, Constituency No. (13) Tayba.
Abdul Shafi Habib Habiballa Othman., Constituency No. (14) Um-Kiradim and Al-Mazroub.

Last Updated on Thursday, 22 April 2010 08:55

- - -

A lot of intimidation during the elections, especially in the south

From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, Thursday, 22 April 2010:

(Khartoum) – The UK-based Centre for Foreign Policy Analysis or CFPA, says the domination of the two ruling parties in the north and south was an obstacle for a free and fair elections in the country.

The CFPA director, Prof. Paul Moorcraft, addressed a press conference at the Friendship Palace in Khartoum on Wednesday.

[Prof. Paul Moorcraft]: “The dominance of the two incumbent parties in the north and south presented obstacles to a “free and fair” election and they were serious impediments in the election, especially in southern Sudan. The two ruling parties’ interference in the media throughout the country was also observed. Nevertheless, the overwhelming countrywide commitment to voting, the infectious enthusiasm and the generally disciplined desire of the citizenry to participate are appreciated and applauded. After the continuous disaffection of war since 1955, the fact that a national election was held in Africa’s largest country, with few traditions of democratic contests, widespread illiteracy and poor infrastructures, especially in the south, is to be commended.”

Prof. Moorcraft disclosed that there was a lot of intimidation during the elections, especially in the south.

[Prof. Paul Moorcraft]: “We did see quite a large amount of intimidation. We have recorded intimidation by the SPLM. Lam Akol was ringing me up for example on a number of occasions saying what was happening to him. But I’m also talking about issues in the north, but mostly all of the intimidation we saw was in the south, largely by the SPLA but not exclusively. So we had a lot of evidence of that and sometimes with direct observation and obviously when politicians ring me up we go and try to check it on the ground which we tried to do. So yes, there was intimidation.”

Professor Paul Moorcraft, the head of CFPA observer mission to Sudan was addressing reporters in Khartoum.

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More news from SRS:

19-Apr-2010

• AU Gives Sudan Elections Free and Fair Imprimatur
• Civil Society Groups Criticize NEC

18-Apr-2010

• NCP Reiterates Coalition Offer
• PCP Refuses to Recognize Election Results
• Arab League Satisfied With Election Process
• Yambio Compiles Results

17-Apr-2010

• EU Observers Declare Elections Did Not Meet International Standards
• NCP Rejects EU Observer Statement
• Carter Center Critical of Elections Procedures
• No Security Problems in Darfur During Voting Says HEC
• Counting Delayed in Unity State As Pay Dispute Continues
• NEC Announces Election Re-run in 17 Constituencies
• SHEC Staff in Juba Refuse to Begin Count Until Salaries Arrive
• Failure to Pay Arrears Delays Count in Unity
• Musician Attacked in Juba

Mia Bittar's Wow Women film - Women's Votes (Julie Flint) - EU US Observers: Standards of Sudan's election fall short

WARM THANKS to a Sudan Watch reader in Khartoum, Sudan for sending in this 3 minute visual poem that weaves together images of Sudanese women artists in Khartoum. Honouring positive and powerful ...

Wow Women by Mia Bittar

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Quote of the Day

"I particularly remember one young Nuer woman who told the men: “This war is your fault. We women are tired of giving birth to children only to see them slaughtered.” All the female delegates applauded her when she proposed a “revolution” of her own. “We will stop giving birth!” - Julie Flint, 16 April 2010 (see report below)

For the record, here is a copy of Julie Flint's great comment posted at Alex de Waal's blog, Making Sense of Sudan, in reply to his blog post 15 April 2010 Women's Votes.

Julie Flint:
April 16th, 2010

Alex, how interesting that women in the Darfur camps not only voted more than men, you say, but that they voted at all, with Abdul Wahid so strongly in favour of a boycott. Do you know what the voting pattern in the camps tells us about Abdul Wahid’s support there these days? Many people are saying that JEM stopped voters in areas under its control. Was there any coercion in the camps?

The interest of women in voting – and presumably in a negotiated rather than violent settlement of conflict – reflects the experience of the church-supported people-to-people peace process in southern Sudan, where the dynamism and determination of women was very apparent. They really gave the SPLA a bashing. I particularly remember one young Nuer woman who told the men: “This war is your fault. We women are tired of giving birth to children only to see them slaughtered.” All the female delegates applauded her when she proposed a “revolution” of her own. “We will stop giving birth!”

A good friend of mine, Awut Deng, walked 30 miles to mobilize women – despite being in the difficult early stages of pregnancy – because the New Sudan Council of Churches organising the process had no budget for mobilization. Everywhere she went women told her they wanted peace because their children were dying. As one delegate said, “In the past we fought over cows, but only fighters died. Now even children and women are killed.” I imagine the thinking of women in the Darfur camps is not so different.

Awut spoke anywhere and everywhere. She interrupted the work of courts to ask: “May I speak?” She spoke to students and teachers in schools. She invited herself to the naming of children. She used, she told me, “any little corner I could find.” She slept in the bush and in the street and went without food for days.

If your impression is correct – you don’t give any details – surely one conclusion must be that more effort must be put into supporting a peace constituency of youth, women and other members of civil society, to limit the margin of manoeuvre of the soldiers and politicians, especially given the late-in-the-day preference of so many of the latter for boycott – unsupported, as far as I can see, by any back-up plan. Viewed from Khartoum, is the plan as it seems to be from here – that there is no plan?

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Note from Sudan Watch Editor
If anyone reading this has emailed me and not received a reply, please forgive me. I have had health and computer problems while monitoring news on Sudan's elections and now must take a break.

Thanks to a reader of Sudan Watch for kindly sending in a report from www.riftvalley.net by Marc Gustafson that is "based on months of interviews with government officials and assessments of government documents about the creation of electoral districts. The report exposes some violations of Sudan's new laws and calls attention to some ways in which the elections might be manipulated."

Thumbs up to SRS, BBC, VOA, UN News Centre, UNAMID, UNMIS, RNW, Xinhua - Thumbs down to Sudan Tribune and Reuters' Opheera McDoom (and their followers blogging at Save Darfur & Enough)

In my view, the majority of journalists and bloggers reporting on Sudan's elections have acted jaw droppingly irresponsibly. The only reports from Reuters on Sudan that I trust are those by British journalist Andrew Heavens in Sudan. France based Sudan Tribune is a clearing house for rebel press releases and anti-government propaganda. So far, I have found that the most accurate news reports are from SRS (Sudan Radio Service), BBC News, UN News Centre, VOA and China's Xinhua News Agency, to name a few. Whenever Sudan watchers read a news report on Sudan, I hope they do a search at Google news to see what else is being reported and sleep on it before jumping to wrong conclusions and spreading dangerous propaganda and inaccurate news.

LATEST NEWS

AU chief hails peaceful Sudan polls
From Agence France-Presse (AFP) - Saturday, 17 April 2010 13:31:

(ADDIS ABABA) - African Union chief Jean Ping hailed Sudan on Saturday for "peacefully conducted" elections as Khartoum kicked off vote-counting after five days of balloting.

Ping "wishes to commend the people of the Sudan and Sudanese political parties for peacefully conducting the just-concluded multi-party general elections," the bloc said in a statement.

"These elections constitute a fundamental milestone towards realising (its) democratic transformation ... as espoused by the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement," it added.

Khartoum and its southern half signed the deal which provided for both the elections and the referendum, ending a bitter decades-long civil war that left around two million dead and some four million displaced.

Ping noted that the polls "were faced by administrative and logistical problems", but he hailed the electoral board for its efforts to address the shortcomings.

The African nation's first multi-party election in over two decades took place from Sunday to Thursday when Sudanese voted to elect their president as well as legislative and local representatives.

Southerners also voted for the leader of the semi-autonomous government of south Sudan.

Results are expected around April 20.

Sudan elections 'failed' to meet international norms
From BBC News online - Saturday, 17 April 2010 15:47 UK - excerpt:

Two international organisations monitoring the elections in Sudan say the controversial polls failed to meet full international standards. The EU and the Carter Center, led by former US President Jimmy Carter, said there were significant failings, citing reports of intimidation and harassment. However, both concluded the polls were a significant step towards democracy.

"It is obvious that the elections will fall short of international standards that are expected of advanced democracies... The people's expectations have not been met," former US president Jimmy Carter told a news conference.

"Turnout is very high, 60%, but with significant deficiencies," said EU mission chief Veronique de Keyser at a news conference in Khartoum. "These elections did not reach international standards, not yet."

Neither of the observer groups called for a re-vote, but recommended instead that the lessons learned be applied to next year's key referendum on Southern Sudan's independence.

Observers: Sudan Election Failed to Meet International Standards
From The Voice of America (VOA) - Saturday, 17 April 2010 - excerpt:

The European Union monitoring mission in Sudan and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter said Saturday that the elections fall short of international standards because of widespread problems.

During the five-day vote, observers reported a series of problems, including intimidation, incomplete voter lists and a shortage of voting materials.

Opposition groups have also complained. Several parties partially or fully boycotted the vote, including southern Sudan's main party, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement. And some groups accused the ruling National Congress Party of planning to rig the results.

Final results are expected to be announced Tuesday.

Some Sudanese officials defended the election Saturday, saying it was unfair to expect Sudan to meet international standards. A member of the National Elections Commission said officials had done their best for a war-torn country with little electoral experience.

Standard of Sudan elections fall short
From Radio Netherlands Worldwide (RNW) - Saturday, 17 April 2010 - 1:21pm

The elections held in Sudan earlier this week did not meet international standards.

Nevertheless, they were an important step in the democratisation process says Veronique de Keyser, head of the European Union observer mission in the east African country. People in South Sudan were able to vote for their own autonomous leader.

The three-day elections for the presidency, the parliament and local government were extended by two days because of logistical problems and delays. The turnout for the elections, the first in 20 years in which several parties could take part, was 60 percent. However, the legitimacy of the poll was brought into question when President Omar el-Bashir's two main rivals withdrew from the running.

News from SRS - Sudan Radio Service - Saturday, 17 April 2010:

NEC Announces Election Re-run in 17 Constituencies
16 April 2010 - (Khartoum) – The deputy chairman of the National Elections Commission, Prof. Abdallah Ahmed Abdallah, says there will be a repeat of the elections in 17 constituencies within sixty days due to errors in the distribution of ballot papers. Speaking to SRS in Khartoum on Thursday, Abdallah said that ballot boxes were misplaced in these constituencies. Full story

EU Observers Declare Elections Did Not Meet International Standards

17 April 2010 - ( Khartoum) – The European Union Elections Observation Mission to Sudan says that Sudan's elections did not meet international standards. The EU-EOM Chief Observer, Veronique de Keyser, addressed a press conference on Saturday in Khartoum.

[Veronique de Keyser]: “It is difficult to compare this elections with other elections, taking into account the particularities of the voting, the history of this country, the stakes and the future. But in terms of the methodology that have been applied by the European Union which is very strict I can only say that these elections have struggled to reach international standards. However, in the process, there were signs of a more democratic future. For instance, the withdrawal of a great part of the opposition in the north strongly reduced the competition in the moment of voting but not the interest during the electoral campaign. The observers have been the direct witnesses of the democratic space that was open to the parties.”

De Keyser said the ruling parties in both northern Sudan and southern Sudan dominated the elections.

[Veronique de Keyser]: “These elections have suffered from significant deficiencies but it has to be taken into account that the Sudan is immense and that these elections are the first in 24 years. In the north and the south these elections have been dominated by the parties in power. The serious incidents during the campaign have been sporadic, with reports of intimidation and harassment of some candidates.”

De Keyser said the EU-EOM will continue to observe the counting of ballots nationwide and will make its final recommendations after the announcement of the final results of the elections.

NCP Rejects EU Observer Statement
17 April 2010 - (Khartoum) – The spokesperson for the National Congress Party reacted strongly to the EU observer statement, Fathi Sheela says that it’s too early to judge the elections in Sudan. Full story

Carter Center Critical of Elections Procedures
17 April 2010 - (Khartoum) – The Carter Center says that Sudan’s elections have fallen short of international standards because of major flaws in the polling process all over the country. The former US President and founder of the Carter Center, Jimmy Carter, held a press conference in Khartoum on Saturday. Full story

No Security Problems in Darfur During Voting Says HEC
17 April 2010 - (Khartoum) – The High Elections Committee in Darfur state says there were no security problems in the state during the counting of the ballots. The chairman of the High Elections Committee in Northern Darfur, Al-Sir Ahmed Al-Mek spoke to SRS on Saturday from Northern Darfur. Full story

Counting Delayed in Unity State As Pay Dispute Continues
17 April 2010 - (Bentiu) – Counting of votes in Unity state began on Friday with some delay due to complaints from elections officials about unpaid wages. Our reporter Clement Wani who is in Unity state sent us this report. Full story

SHEC Staff in Juba Refuse to Begin Count Until Salaries Arrive
16 April 2010 - (Juba) – Staff of State High Election Committee at Mayo Primary School polling centre in Juba have refused to count the ballots because their allowances have not been paid by NEC. The head of the polling station, Simon Saki, explained to SRS what happened: Full story

Failure to Pay Arrears Delays Count in Unity
16 April 2010 - (Bentiu) – An official from the State High Elections Committee in Unity state, Michael Mayar Mading, said that they have started counting the ballot papers. Speaking to SRS by telephone, Mayar Mading said party agents should remain calm until the winners are announced. Full story

Musician Attacked in Juba
16 April 2010 - (Juba) – A prominent southern Sudanese musician was the victim of an assassination attempt early on Friday morning. He was hit in the chest by a hand grenade thrown by an unknown assailant outside his house at Hai Jeberona in Juba. The grenade failed to detonate. Speaking to SRS in Juba, Kang John Jok, popularly known as Kang J.J., explains how the incident occurred. Full story

News from SRS - Sudan Radio Service - Thursday, 15 April 2010:

Polling Stations Close at 6pm Thursday 15 April
15 April 2010 - (Khartoum) – The National Elections Commission has signaled the end of the voting process. Voting officially ended on Thursday at 6pm. The deputy chairman of the NEC, Prof. Abdallah Ahmed Abdallah, made the announcement during a press conference on Wednesday in Khartoum. Full story

Insecurity, Logistics and Water Shortages Prevent Voting in Yirol East
15 April 2010 - (Juba) – Many of the voters in Yirol East county were unable to cast their ballots due to insecurity in the area. Our reporter Mageng Wade is in Yirol East and he sent this report. Full story

WES Vote Counting Begins Friday Amidst Complaints By Unpaid Election Officials
15 April 2010 - (Yambio) – The Chairman of the High Elections Committee in Western Equatoria state, Lawrence Suluvia, says counting of votes from all polling stations will start on Friday. Suluvia spoke to SRS in Yambio on Wednesday. Full story

Foreigner Traders in Juba Urge Sudanese to Remain Calm When Results Are Announced
15 April 2010 - (Juba) – Foreign traders in Juba are urging Sudanese not to react violently when the election results are announced. SRS spoke to some foreigner traders in Juba on Wednesday. Full story

Al-Bashir Still To Face ICC Charges Even if Re-elected
15 April 2010 - (Nairobi) – President al-Bashir will still face charges at the International Criminal Court even if he is re-elected. An ICC lawyer, Abd Al-Hadi Shalouf, told SRS on Wednesday by phone from The Hague that al-Bashir will still have to face charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur. Full story

Mia Bittar's Wow Women 3 minute film - Sudanese Women Artists in Khartoum

Please click here for the full story (republished due to a technical problem).

Sudan: Red Crescent prepares for possible election related violence - IFRC disbursed 394,035 Swiss francs from DREF

Sudan: Red Crescent prepares for possible election related violence
From International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
By Anne Wanjiru, Wednesday, 14 April 2010 (via ReliefWeb):

For many Sudanese, taking part in an election was almost like a reverie. Most of them had never been to the polls before. It is a learning experience, even for the leaders vying for electoral seats. The expectations of the 16 million registered voters, neighbouring countries and the international communities are high for Sudan's first multi party elections. If peaceful and successful, these will bring a nation ravaged by a quarter of a century of conflict closer to becoming a democracy.

Preparedness

Tensions, especially in the country's South have been high for months. The Sudanese Red Crescent, together with Movement partners, has been developing and putting into place contingency plans in the event of violence and civil unrest.

With authorities and humanitarian organizations recognizing that the risk for electoral skirmishes between supporters of various political groups was high in 14 states of Sudan, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) disbursed 394,035 Swiss francs (366,708 US dollar or 269,170 euro) from the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Sudanese Red Crescent's election contingency planning and training scheme.

Close to 40,000 volunteers mainly in the high risk areas such as Jonglei, Blue Nile and Kordofan have received refresher training in emergency first aid as well as offering psychological support. They are on stand by for deployment in the event of civil unrest and election related violence.

Emergency communication equipment

One of the crucial elements of the Red Crescent's plan is having efficient emergency communication equipment installed and functioning. As the leading indigenous emergency response agency throughout Sudan, the Red Crescent has been requested to coordinate communication at national and state levels.

Sudan is the largest country of Africa measuring almost four times the size of France. Sharing of information between the headquarters of the Red Crescent in Khartoum and branches across a surface of more than 2.5 million square kilometres is a challenge but also the key to ensure quick response in case of an emergency.

The IFRC's information systems manager for Eastern Africa, David Kola, was sent to the country to give support in setting up the emergency telecommunications equipment. He visited 13 branches and 3 sub branches in 16 locations in the north. In just three weeks, he covered more than 7,500 kilometres of vast land in the Blue Nile, Dongola, Kadugli, Albara and Port Sudan regions to name just a few.

"In each branch, at least two volunteers were trained on how to handle the telecommunications equipment and will be the focal persons in responding. All emergency centres in the north and south are now running 24 hours a day and are well connected," says Kola.

Little infrastructure

The elections have been extended by another two days to give more time to the voters in the South, most of whom are illiterate and struggling with the complicated voting system that requires them to go through 12 different ballot papers. "The region's infrastructure is almost non-existent, devastated by years of civil war, making the elections process complex to say the least," says Kola.

"Telecommunication equipment was also installed in four branches in south Sudan. Thanks to our contribution, information can be relayed quickly. And, while we hope for the best we're prepared for the worst: any occurrence of violence will trigger an immediate response from trained Red Crescent volunteers," he adds.

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.