ACE Electoral News

ACE Electoral News

Sudan elections put U.N., U.S. in an awkward spot, The Foreign Policy (2010)

The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court reminded the world how politically awkward the April 11-13 vote could prove: Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, the first sitting head of state the court has charged with war crimes, may have his rule legitimized through a U.N.-backed election.

Reports That LRA's Kony is Hiding in Darfur Alarm South Sudan, VOA News (2010)

Following reports that the leader of the Ugandan Lord's Resistance Army rebels may be hiding in a Khartoum-controlled region of Darfur in Sudan, a researcher for the Washington-based Enough Project says it is still not clear where he is. There is concern that LRA forces are preparing to launch attacks in South Sudan during next month's national elections.

Sudan's Bashir threatens southern referendum, Reuters (2010)

Sudan's president warned former southern rebels on 29 March that if they refused to take part in April's elections, a southern referendum on secession would not happen.

Sudan’s Ruling Party Rigged Upcoming Vote, Crisis Group Says, Bloomberg (2010)

Sudanese President Umar al-Bashir’s government is rigging the country’s first multiparty elections in 24 years scheduled for next month, especially in the western region of Darfur.

Election Observers must monitor human rights during Sudanese Elections, Amnesty International (2010)

International observers deployed to Sudan for the presidential and parliamentary elections in April must monitor human rights as a key part of their brief, Amnesty International said on Friday.

Sudan Expert Says Yasir Arman's Withdrawal from Election Significant, VOA News (2010)

Officials from the former rebel group, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), said late Wednesday that their candidate, Yasir Arman, pulled out of the election because of electoral irregularities and continued conflict in Darfur.

Sudan urged to end political curbs, Aljazeera (2010)

The US has urged Sudan to eliminate restrictions on political parties in the run-up to general and presidential elections. Sudan is to hold the elections from April 11 to 13 - its first national poll since 1986.

Analysts: Coming Elections in Sudan Perilous for the Country's Present, Future, VOA News (2010)

Analysts in the United States say little good will come of the vote; as Sudan's opposition parties go back and forth over whether they will participate in next week's general elections April 11-13, with many parts of Darfur are still experiencing fighting despite a ceasefire.

Southern Sudan Party Widens its Boycott of Sunday's Election, VOA News (2010)

The main political party in Sudan's southern region – the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) – has decided to widen its planned boycott of next week’s national elections.

FACTBOX-Sudan's complex elections due to begin on April 11, Reuters (2010)

Sudan's first multi-party polls in 24 years are due to begin on Sunday, but they have already been marred by fraud accusations and boycott threats from political parties. Here are some key facts about the presidential, legislative and gubernatorial elections.

Sudan opposition Umma party will boycott elections, Reuters (2010)

Sudan's Umma Party, one of the main opposition parties, said on Wednesday it would boycott next week's presidential, legislative and gubernatorial polls, blighting their credibility.

Sudan: EU Withdraws Election Observers From Darfur, VOA News (2010)

The European Union is withdrawing its election observers from Sudan's Darfur region, just four days before Sudan begins national elections.

Campaigning ends in Sudan polls, Aljazeera (2010)

As presidential, parliamentary and regional elections are taking place on Sunday, April 11, incumbent president al-Bashir makes the final push for votes today, which is the last day of campaigning. As two of the largest opposition parties decided to boycott the elections, al-Bashir is virtually guaranteed re-election. As claims of widespread fraud loom, international observers are concerned about the elections, and parliamentarians from 12 other countries have called for close monitoring of any irregularities.

Sudan's landmark polls off to an uncertain start, BBC (2010)

While the Elections'process generally went well in the capital Khartoum into its second day, voters faced obstacles in several states from the Red Sea in the north to the far south.

Poll Observer: First Day of Sudan Voting was Peaceful, VOA News (2010)

A top official of the Carter Center’s poll observer team says Sudanese were generally interested in voting as the election continues into the second day in the scheduled three-day general election that began 11 April. David Carroll, director of the democracy program at the Carter Center said voting so far has been peaceful.

Voters head to the polls in Sudan, Aljazeera (2010)

Voters in Sudan went to the polls on 11 April in the country's first multi-party elections for 24 years. The elections have been hit by allegations of fraud and vote-rigging biased towards Omar al-Bashir's ruling National Congress Party, and the major opposition candidates have pulled out of key races in protest.

Sudan vote begins despite boycott, Aljazeera (2010)

The president of Sudan, has cast his ballot in an election that will decide whether he wins another term, despite few alternatives. Yasir Arman, a northern Muslim representing the former southern rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement(SPLM), and Sadiq al-Mahdi of the Umma Party,have both withdrawn from the race.

Sudan extends landmark elections after ballot mix-ups, BBC (2010)

Sudan's election has been extended by two days, officials say, after delays in delivering ballot papers.

Sudan vote errors hit turnout: officials, Reuters (2010)

Sudanese politicians said on Tuesday poor logistics were preventing hundreds of thousands of voters from taking part in the country's first full election in 24 years, with some early turnout figures below 10 percent.

Sudan elections show up deep divides, Reuters (2010)

Sudan's elections were set up under a peace deal designed to unify the country, but in Khartoum they are showing up the oil-producing nation's deep divides.