NCP, SPLM Agree on Polls Outcome Approval, Formation of New Government
(SV)
The National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) agreed to accept the polls results upon their announcement by the National Elections Commission and to respect the decisions it may issue, as well as courts verdicts on elections appeals, underscoring the importance of calm and peace preservation.
During the SPLM Chairman, Salva Kiir and NCP Deputy Chief for Executive Affairs, Ali Osman Mohammed Taha, joint meeting of yesterday in Juba, and the two parties stressed the criticality of expediting the establishment of the post-elections government at both the federal and South Sudan government levels.
Taha reported that they had agreed on the fundamentality of effecting the remaining items of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, particularly borders demarcation, completion of commissions establishment and stage setting for the upcoming self-determination referendum whose set conduction date has been confirmed. He said that the two parties had agreed to render the unity option attractive, adding, “We, in the NCP have assured Kiir of President Al Bashir’s personal commitment to exert utmost effort for entrenching unity by establishing its infrastructures in terms of roads, telecommunications and economic development projects.
NCP rejects US view of "flawed" elections but warms to future cooperation with Washington
(Mirayafm)
The National Congress Party (NCP) has rejected statements issued by the United States stating that Sudan's elections were not free or fair, but the party was more forthcoming towards proposals of future cooperation between both countries. The NCP was responding to earlier comments by US Assistant Secretary of State, Philip Crowley (photo, left) who said that there were flaws and failures in the electoral process.
Crowley, however added, that the elections were important as it moved Sudan closer towards fully implementing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).
A senior NCP official, Ibrahim Ghandour, insisted that the country's general elections were free and fair, adding that the process adhered to criteria that met with international standards.
Ghandour further expressed the elected government's readiness to cooperate with the US administration in implementing the remaining CPA benchmarks.
Egypt Confident in Chad's Commitment to Preserving Sudan's Stability
(SMC)
Egypt has renewed its confidence in Chad's commitment to not causing tensions inside Sudan, and Egypt's appreciations of Chad's initiative to pressure Dr. Khalil Ibrahim,
leader of Darfur rebel Justice and Equality Movement, to join efforts to achieve peace in Darfur and to put down arms. Egypt in turn, has reiterated its commitment to exerting efforts to assure Sudan of Chad's good will, and persuading Sudan to remain committed to its pledges to not supply support to Chadian rebels.
It expressed its satisfaction over positive development in Sudan-Chad relations.
Egypt's Foreign Minister, Ahmed Abu Al-Ghait yesterday met the Chadian President Idriss Debby and delivered a letter by Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak containing an invitation to the Chadian president to visit Cairo as soon as possible.
Egypt's Foreign Ministry spokesperson disclosed yesterday to Abu-Al Ghait's visit comes as a beginning of tour to Africa including Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon.
The spokesperson said Mubarak's letter to the Chadian President also included his congratulations to the later as well as brother Chadian people on the 50th anniversary of their country's independence; the greetings of Mr. President to his Chadian brother, his Excellency's follow up of Chadian President's success to maintain security and stability in Chad including preserving development gains.
The spokesperson indicated that the Chadian President, on his turn, expressed his deep appreciations to President Mubarak and for his wisdom as prominent African leader, the encouraging and supportive role he played in normalizing Sudan-Chad relations; and expressing Chad's appreciations for Egypt's commitment to developing bilateral partnership with it.
The spokesperson also stated that Abu Al-Ghait also met with his Chadian counterpart, Mousa Faki Mohamed, where the two co-chaired a meeting of a joint committee between the two states, which debated ways of response to Chad's needs in various fields, especially in the fields of oil, health, agriculture, constructions and construction industries; especially, the cooperation programme with Chad through Egypt Technical Cooperation Fund with Africa, is the biggest programme in Africa. Egypt has 41 experts in Chad and is about to establish Alexandria branch university there.
At the end of the meeting of the joint committee, five understanding memos and cooperative protocols were signed between the two states in the fields of health, agriculture, high education, and technical cooperation agreement between Chad's health ministry and Egypt Fund on Technical Cooperation with Africa.
Taban Deng seizes NEC office in Bentiu, refuses to accept defeat
(ST)
The incumbent caretaker governor of the oil-rich Unity state has refused to accept defeat in the gubernatorial elections, threatening the State High Elections Committee to declare him the winner irrespective of results.
The overall results received by the electoral body in the state have shown that his main challenger, Angelina Teny, is far ahead of him by more than 24,000 extra votes.
An official close to NEC office in Bentiu who spoke on condition of anonymity told Sudan Tribune that governor’s security officers had controlled the NEC’s branch office and were conducting forceful dialogue with the electoral staff, threatening them to declare Taban as winner.
He said senior officials in the state were consulting with the President of the Government of Southern Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit to intervene and allow for the free and fair announcement of the gubernatorial results in the state.
“Taban Deng Gai should be told to accept defeat in a democratic and peaceful atmosphere,” the official added.
The gubernatorial candidates were scheduled to sign for the elections results today (Tuesday) in the NEC’s office during which losers were expected to accept defeat before announcement of the winner.
State officials across the country were also making consultations to respond to the situation and avoid any resort to violence until the issue is resolved peacefully.
Three SPLA soldiers killed in Mapel barrack over salary row
(Agencies)
Military police under Maj-Gen. Ajongo Mawut on Monday shot and killed three soldiers involved in a salary row. The soldiers were angry that their names did not appear on a pay sheet and were allegedly refusing to follow a directive to relocate.
The soldiers were resisting transfer to Jonglei state, according to the SPLA official spokesman. “Under the pretext that some of their colleagues’ names did not appear in a pay-sheet list… (which was due to typing error), they moved and stopped a truck between Wau and Tonj,” said Major General Kuol Deim Kuol.
“They looted the truck and used those truck to transport them – so SPLA director for operations Maj-Gen. Ajongo Mawut was in the area and tried to intervene to convince them but these soldier refuse to listen his orders, so there was no option, the only option was that the SPLA military police intervened and three among those soldiers who were creating the problem were killed and their ring leaders were captured and arrested in Mapel and now the situation is under control,” said the spokesman.
The SPLA official spokesman described the incident Monday as “a small problem”. He compared it to an incident in mid March when some soldiers left Mapel headed toward Wau rather than follow a directive to report to Pariak training centre near Bor town. There were some 12,731 NCOs and men involved in that incident, the SPLA spokesman acknowledged at the time.
One battalion in Lakes has already been transferred to Jonglei to participate in a disarmament operation and two battalions remain. Kuol detailed that “most of these soldiers who are creating the problem today delayed during the SPLA first reorganization of Division 5; those soldiers came from Division 3 and most of them came from Warrap, and Aweil.”
Opposition Contestation before Elections Results!
(Opinion)
The National Election Commission announced that the final official results of the elections will be revealed on coming Sunday 25th April, 2010. Some opposition forces started; even before the vision is clear, to present contestation over the result spearing sharp criticism towards the elections process.
However, the Sudanese voters were satisfied with the elections and that is the core of the issue.
It is strange that some forces ignore that reality and give a blind eye to the fact that the process belongs ultimately to the Sudanese voters who with his/her own will say the final word.
The local, regional and international observation teams and media did not reveal any complaints from the voters in practicing their democratic right and that simply means that the process was conducted in a peaceful atmosphere.
The observation teams testified that the Sudanese voters participated in the voting process in full enthusiasm and the media cameras documented the participation of disabled, old women and men who dashed towards the polling stations to practice their democratic rights.
The 60 plus polling percentage is but a proof that Sudanese were keen to participate in the elections process.
The specialized courts formed to look in any violations did not register any complaints over wrong or corrupt methods during the polling days.
The Police Director affirmed the absence of any cases under penal law on the polling process.
The Sudanese voters practiced their democratic right in a civilized manner and in free will.
Despite all that realities, still there are loud voices trying to disturb the ideal elections' environment.
It is possible for any candidate to express his dissatisfaction of the results but in such case he should look for a reasonable justification for his failure.
The objectivity and wisdom require that the looser must accept the result and start to review his stance to avoid the reasons of his failure in the coming rounds.
We urge our political forces to recognize that there are several political changes happened and that the political map is also changed.
The emergence of new methods of communications and the great scientific development, besides the spread of awareness with the increase in educational institutions all over the country should be considered as one of the major tools in changing the political map of the country.
The elections process was conducted peacefully all over the country and no documented violation; hence the talk over its fairness is just an attempt to evoke conflicts.
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