Sudan’s opposition threatens to boycott elections, citing irregularities

Sudan opposition renews threat to boycott election

KHARTOUM, Sudan — Sudan’s major opposition parties threatened late on Thursday a total boycott of the country’s first multiparty elections in decades, citing irregularities and government bias.

Opposition leaders gave themselves 24 hours to consult with their parties before making a final decision. A boycott would shatter the credibility of the landmark contests which were meant to stabilize the fractious country and could spark renewed unrest and bloodshed.

“Political forces decided to reject and boycott the incomplete and deformed elections which the ruling party insists on holding in April devoid of the minimum conditions of freedom or fairness,” the opposition’s statement declared.

The opposition boycott threat includes parliamentary elections which are to be held at the same time as the presidential contest, the first multiparty vote in 26 years.

The opposition is demanding the government delay the April 11 elections seven months and address their complaints that the institutions governing the election are under the authorities’ control and biased.

“Several parties are still in consultation over the next 24 hours to formulate the nature of their boycott,” Mariam Sadiq, a senior member of the Umma Party, told the Associated Press.

A number of the 11 candidates challenging President Omar al-Bashir had already indicated they would boycott the presidential contests. Al-Bashir came to power in a military coup in 1989.

The boycott and the threat come on the heels of a decision Wednesday by the south’s main party, The Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement, to withdrew its own presidential candidate, who would have been a key contender.

The brinkmanship comes as U.S. envoy to Sudan Scott Gration arrived in Sudan and met with opposition leaders, apparently to ward off a crisis ahead of the vote, according to the southern party spokesman.

The parliamentary, local and presidential elections are a crucial step in the 2005 north-south peace deal that ended a 21-year civil war and paves the way for a referendum when southerners would decide whether they will opt for secession from the Muslim-dominated north.

Some 2 million people died during the war. It is separate from the Darfur conflict which erupted in 2003 and has left 300,000 people dead. No comprehensive peace deal has been reached for Darfur.

The SPLM said the party decided late Wednesday to withdraw its candidate Yasser Arman from the presidential race because of “numerous violations” committed by al-Bashir’s ruling National Congress Party.

The SPLM is the junior partner in al-Bashir’s governing coalition, and the party’s boycott throws its relations with the president’s party into jeopardy.

Mubarak al-Fadil, leader of a small northern party said Gration, the US envoy, had counseled against postponing the elections and made suggestions to address their complaints.

“His opinion was that postponing won’t be beneficial because the time will not be enough to solve the problems and that some issues can be resolved by going ahead with the elections,” he told reporters.

The opposition has accused the president’s National Congress Party of using state resources, limiting their access to the media and controlling the independent National election commission, undermining their chances and the fairness of the process.

International observers and rights groups have said all signs point to a flawed process where the National Election Commission is unlikely to deliver a free and fair process and on time.

John Norris, Executive Director of the Washington-based Enough Project at the Center for American Progress, said there were no major reforms ahead of the vote and no U.S. pressure on the Sudanese government to mend its ways.

“The international community and the government of Sudan tried to build the elections like a house without foundation, and it is no surprise that is falling apart pretty badly at this point,” Norris said.

On Wednesday the United States, Norway and Britain expressed worry about reports of restrictions on political freedoms, saying in a statement that all parties must make sure peaceful and credible elections are held in April.

“The U.N. and U.S. are not interfering. They are aware of all the irregularities. They should do something. Otherwise people won’t be quiet. It is our future,” Matthew of the SPLM said.

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El Deeb reported from Cairo.