Last month, Sudan held its long awaited general elections as stipulated by the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which ended more than two decades of fighting between factions in the north and south. It marked the first multi-party elections in the country in 24 years, and was intended to effect a democratic transformation in what is Africa’s largest country.
It was a complicated election, as voters were asked to choose not only a national president, but also a southern Sudan president, governors for the country’s 25 states and members of national and regional assemblies.
Many commentators questioned whether the current totalitarian regime, which came to power over a barrel of a gun in 1989, was genuine about handing over power to civilians by creating conditions for a free and fair election. Key contesters such as Yassir Arman of the People Liberation Movement and Sadiq Almahadi of the Umma Party pulled out of the race after accusing President Bashir’s National Congress Party of fraud and vote rigging.
According to the National Elections Commission, the turnout after five days of polls closed on 15 April stood at over 60 per cent. Some media reports pointed out that chaos and confusion marred the first day of voting due to delays getting ballot papers out, plus ballot mix-ups and names missing from the electoral roll.
As expected, President Bashir was declared winner after receiving 68 per cent of the vote (despite being subject to a warrant for his arrest by the International Criminal Court for war crimes). Meanwhile, Salva Kiir, leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), received 93 per cent of the southern vote to retain his seat as president of the southern Sudan government.
Opposition members pointed the finger at international observers for allegedly attempting to legitimise the rule of President Bashir. Former US President Jimmy Carter was accused as being conciliatory in his public remarks which suggesting the National Elections Commission was doing its best to produce fair polls. However, and at a press conference after the polls closed, both Carter and the EU observing missions concluded that the elections fell short of international standards, yet were acceptable.
Shepherding the peaceful transfer of power in ethnically and culturally diverse Sudan has always been made problematic by the continual intervention of the military. Since the country gained independence from Britain in 1956, the military establishment has ruled the country for 43 years after overthrowing three democratically elected governments.
But now, having carried out a peaceful election, can Sudan be run differently this time, given the failure of both former and current military regimes to deliver on their promises?
There is a dire need to mobilise the Sudanese masses, who seem to have lost confidence in sectarian party politics. Parties such as the Umma and the Democratic Unionist Party, which dominated the political stage during the country’s brief democratic epochs (the most recent from 1985-1989), need major restructuring. They must rid themselves of egoism and rise up to the occasion by putting the national interest of the country as their first priority. This can only be done through radical reforms.
More importantly, the ruling National Congress Party also needs to rid itself of its exclusionary mentality and translate words into deeds when it comes to the equitable distribution of wealth. President Bashir needs to root out corruption and focus on lifting destitute people above the poverty line.
Despite the controversies, the election was a step in the right direction. But peace has yet to return to Darfur, which has been witnessing an appalling humanitarian catastrophe since 2003. And another pivotal issue is the referendum for the south’s independence, scheduled to be held early next year. Sudan is at a crossroads, and the challenge now is whether the country will remain united.
Tarig Yousif (PHD) is a freelance researcher in the field of forced migration and human displacement. He worked for many years as aid worker in refugee camps in Sudan
