ICG on rigged elections in Sudan: ‘Whoever wins, lacks legitimacy’
The elections in Sudan are already so much flawed ‘that whoever wins will likely lack legitimacy,’ says the International Crisis Group in a report about the upcoming elections due for 11 April. The ICG researcher, Fouad Hikmat, told Radio Dabanga today that he is in particularly concerned about the flawed electoral process in Darfur.
The elections in Sudan are already so much flawed ‘that whoever wins will likely lack legitimacy,’ says the International Crisis Group in a report about the upcoming elections due for 11 April. The ICG researcher, Fouad Hikmat, told Radio Dabanga today that he is in particularly concerned about the flawed electoral process in Darfur. Darfur makes up almost 25% of the Sudanese population (40 million). A victory in Darfur is crucial for the ruling National Congress Party of President Omar al Bashir to stay in power. Another 25% of the Southern voters are likely to vote against the NCP. The ICG says that the international community ‘should acknowledge that whoever wins will likely lack legitimacy’. It suggest the UN, US and other main actors press for Darfur peace talks to resume immediately after the elections; insist that any Darfur peace deal provides for a new census, voter registration and national elections; and lay the groundwork for a peaceful referendum on southern self-determination and post-referendum North-South relations. Fouad Hikmat told Radio Dabanga: “Winning in Darfur is crucial to the NCP to ensure its continued national dominance’. He said he based his conclusions on national and international observers who provided evidence that many groups targeted in the conflict, especially IDPs (internally displaced people), were unable to register to vote or refused to do so. Hikmat: ‘Many people were deliberately denied sufficient time and information, while teams worked hard in remote areas to register nomads who support the government.’
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