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SUDAN: Bishop asks whether people's voice is being heard in elections
By John Pontifex
Bishop Daniel Adwok Kur of Khartoum in Sudan
A Catholic bishop in Khartoum has warned that allegations of foul play in Sudan’s elections may trigger a major political dispute.
Bishop Daniel Adwok Kur’s warning comes amid growing concerns that the vote could block the country’s path to democracy.
The bishop cited ongoing reports of alleged electoral malpractice and incompetence, as well as the last minute withdrawal of parties and candidates.
He also said there was a danger of people losing confidence in the political process.
Bishop Adwok said there was increasing alarm over unconfirmed reports from many parts of the country of poor organisation of electoral registers and polling stations.
Voters had allegedly been intimidated and there had been accusations of other irregularities. These included claims of vote-rigging by the National Congress Party, the ruling party of the national government in Khartoum.
Speaking to Aid to the Church in Need from Sudan’s capital, the Auxiliary Bishop of Khartoum said: “The reports of irregularities make one wonder whether in the end these elections will qualify to be called ‘free and fair’.”
Polling got underway on Sunday, 11th April in the first nationwide election held in Sudan since 1986. But voting extensions would delay the final results until next week, explained Bishop Adwok.
The ballot is seen as a crucial precursor to next January’s all-important referendum in which southerners will decide whether to remain part of a united Sudan or create a new country of their own.
Bishop Adwok expressed grave concerns that the election would fall foul of the recommendations for the country’s political development set out in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
The Comprehensive Peace Agreement of January 2005 ended more than 20 years of civil war in Sudan.
It agreed a temporary power-sharing deal between the Khartoum-based Islamic government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army, the rebel movement in the south.
But Bishop Adwok said: “It is only right to ask whether these elections can really bring the people the democratic transformation the Comprehensive Peace Agreement had promised.”
The auxiliary bishop, who is based in the pastoral region of Kosti, a town 100 miles south of the capital, said: “When the election results come out, it is quite possible that there will be some tension and indeed confrontation between the contesting parties.
“The electoral fairness will certainly be brought into question.”
The withdrawal of some candidates had been a huge setback to many voters, said Bishop Daniel. He said many people were dismayed that the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement had withdrawn their candidacy in the north of the country.
He explained: “For us here in the north, it seems there has been a lack of candidates willing to promote a vision of Sudan which is multi-cultural, multi-lingual, multi-racial, multi-ethnic and multi-religious as the interim constitution states.
“People want unity in diversity.”
He added: “After the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement pulled out, people in Kosti – including Christians – have been asking ‘What should we do?’”
But he stressed that, despite the setbacks, the people were determined to vote.
He said: “The attitude of the people is really a clear sign that they wanted these elections.
“They want real democratic transformation to take place. This comes after years of military dictatorship for the North.
“For the south, they want the freedom to decide their destiny in the forthcoming referendum elections in 2011.”
Despite concerns of a major political fall-out following the elections, Bishop Adwok made clear that he felt a return to conflict was unlikely, at least for the time being.
The big test would come next January with the referendum which could lead to cessation of the south, he said.
Bishop Adwok explained: “This election is a trial ahead of the referendum. It will enable us to see for ourselves the performance of those candidates who are elected in the run up to next January.”