Sudan - elections

Jubilation as registration begins for first poll in 24 years

Article published on the 2009-11-02 Latest update 2009-11-02 12:02 TU

A woman displays her identity card after registering for Sudan's elections in Khartoum
(Photo: Reuters)

Voters in Sudan have begun to register for their country's first presidential, legislative and regional elections in 24 years, with the authorities facing a tough logistical challenge.

Sudanese voters have one month to register for the poll, and authorities have set up both fixed and mobile registration centres across Africa's largest country.

In Juba, the capital of the south, people held celebrations over the weekend to launch the voter registration. But Western experts are concerned authorities will be unable to reach remote areas, where some 20 million people are eligible to vote.

Kouider Zerrouk, the deputy spokesman for the United Nations Mission in Sudan, told RFI celebrations were less jubilant in the capital Khartoum, but it was still very early.

 

“We support the government in terms of logistics and transport and providing specific materials, but we are not interfering as such – or of course in the election afterwards,” he said.

“We’re working in collaboration with the local authorities, which have different and various tools and mechanisms to reach these people. They have mobile teams who go in every state to reach those in remote areas. This is a big challenge."

The ballot comes at a crucial time for Sudan. President Omar al-Bashir faces an international arrest warrant for alleged crimes in the western region of Darfur, and tensions remain between Khartoum and the semi-autonomous, mostly Christian, south.

Southern Sudan is due to hold a referendum on independence in January 2011.

The ruling Sudanese National Congress Party said it regrets a southern leader's call for regional independence in an upcoming referendum, saying it contradicts the peace deal that ended a two-decade civil war.

On Saturday, southern leader Salva Kiir said south Sudanese will be "second class" citizens in a united Sudan if they do not vote for independence.