South Sudan’s polling problems

May 2, 2010 - 0:0

On April 11, Sudan's historic elections began amidst excitement and fanfare.

By the time final results were announced on April 26, however, a string of boycotts, irregularities and allegations of fraud and intimidation marred the atmosphere. Significant delays in announcing results added to the suspicion and frustration.
As predicted, Omar al-Bashir, the incumbent president of the Republic of Sudan, secured his position with 68.4 percent of the vote.
In the semi-autonomous south, Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) leader, Salva Kiir, won a second term as the president of the Government of South Sudan (GOSS) by a landslide margin of 92 per cent.
In the hours following the result announcements, heavily armed southern Sudanese police and military forces deployed throughout the southern capital of Juba in anticipation of violent clashes with frustrated opposition supporters.
SPLM dominates
""The majority of gubernatorial seats throughout the south went to candidates of the ruling SPLM, a party comprised largely of former southern rebels. Only in Western Equitoria, one of southern Sudan's ten states, did a non-SPLM candidate win a gubernatorial position.
According to partial results, SPLM candidates won an overwhelming majority of parliamentary seats as well.
Many opposition candidates have rejected the outcome and announced plans to contest the results. Several non-SPLM candidates, including Kiir’s GOSS presidential opponent, Dr Lam Akol, have accused the SPLM of rigging the vote.
Given the lack of experience in organizing elections, logistical, technical and administrative challenges quickly arose during the election process.
Perhaps most notable throughout the south was the issue of voter registration discrepancies. Many registered voters complained that they were unable to find their names on registration lists at polling centres.
""Most of the people cannot read and write,"" 33-year-old Edwin Baba said as he waited to cast his vote in Juba.
""Finding their names is only the first challenge, then they have to vote,"" he said. ""Some people in remote areas have not even held a pen.""
Intimidation and harassment
Both domestic and international observers reported incidents of intimidation and harassment of candidates, polling officials and observers during the election.
On April 26, the US-based advocacy group, Human Rights Watch, issued a statement outlining instances of abuses during the election.
""The process was especially chaotic in the south, with serious irregularities reported in most states,"" according to the organisation's website.
Referendum ahead
Despite these shortcomings, some see the absence of large-scale violence as a major success.
""For most of us, the referendum is the ultimate election""
Edwin Baba, a Juba resident ""We are very happy that the elections and the announcement of the results have been mostly peaceful,"" Berizilous said.
In a place where violence remains a common response to disagreement, the so-far peaceful course of the elections indicates some level of progress.
For many southerners, the April elections are a stepping-stone toward a referendum scheduled for 2011, during which southerners will decide whether or not to succeed from north.
""For most of us, the referendum is the ultimate election,"" Baba said.
The referendum, like the elections, is mandated by the 2005 Comprehensive Peace agreement, which ended 20 years of war between the north and south. About two million people perished in the war and four million fled their homes.
""We must now turn our attention to the referendum,"" Berizilious said. ""There is a lot of work and negotiation to be done if we are to be prepared.""
(Source: AlJazeera)