quelles élections au Soudan ?

Soudan

 

Les choses semblaient bien parties : une participation massive au processus d'enregistrement des électeurs !

 

Deux socialistes à des postes de responsabilités : Véronique De Keyser à la tête de la mission d'observation de l'Union européenne et Ana Gomes qui conduit la mission parlementaire européenne.

 

Véronique De Keyser vient d'annoncer sa décision de retirer les observateurs européens du Darfour, prenant acte de l'impossibilité d'accomplir sa tâche dans cette région en raison de "la violence endémique et persistance" qui "ne permet pas un travail d'observation normale".

 

Quiconque "intervient dans nos affaires ne restera pas plus de 24 heures dans le pays. Quiconque tente de nous insulter, nous lui couperons la langue" a déclaré le Président al-Béchir.

 

"Les pratiques d'accueil au Soudan ne correspondent en rien à l'hospitalité habituelle du monde arabe." a répondu Véronique De Keyser.

 

Qui participera aux élections ?

 

1) Le parti du Président "Parti national du Congrès".

2) Pour l'opposition le "Parti Unioniste Démocrate", qui était arrivé second, en 1986, lors des dernières élections démocratiques. Il a ainsi rompu avec ses partenaires du "Consensus national".

3) Le parti des ex-rebelles sudistes du SPLM. Son leader était considéré comme le challenger le plus sérieux pour la présidentielle. Il a décidé de ne présenter de candidats que dans les Etats du Sud, et dans deux Etats frontaliers, riches en pétrole et disputés en cas de séparation du pays : le Nil bleu et les Montagnes de Nuba.

4) le parti "Umma", qui avait remporté les élections il y a 25 ans, en particulier au Darfour,  a décidé de boycotter le processus électoral "à tous les niveaux". Le Parti communiste a décidé de faire de même.

5) Les rebelles du Darfour qui avaient signé un cessez-le-feu avec le gouvernement demandent un report des élections, considérant qu'il est impossible de les organiser si tôt  dans une région où les déplacés se comptent en centaines de milliers.

 

Tous les partis d'opposition accusent la "commission électorale" de partialité. Celle-ci a repoussé toute hypothèse de report du scrutin.

 

Les observateurs européens quittent le Darfour, mais restent présents dans le reste du pays.

Les élections sont observées,  également, par l'Union africaine, la Ligue arabe, le Japon, la Fondation Carter...

 

Il faut rappeler que les donateurs n'ont pas respecté leurs promesses de 2005 : 4,8 milliards de $, et que le Soudan n'est plus éligible au Fonds Européen de Développement, pour n'avoir pas ratifié la révision de 2005 de l'Accord de Cotonou.

 

"The alternative to elections in Sudan would be war" - Ana Gomes

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• Sudan elections 11-13 April
• Referendum on independence of Southern Sudan January 2011

 

EP observation mission set to report back on Sudanese elections

War-torn Sudan is due to hold its first democratic presidential, local and legislative elections since 1986. But will the 11-13 April elections really be democratic? There are fears of manipulation, a number of opposition parties are boycotting them and, following threats, the EU decided Wednesday to withdraw election observers from Darfur. We spoke to Portuguese Socialist Ana Gomes who is heading Parliament's observation mission.

President Omar al-Bashir's regime is accused of trying to manipulate the elections. Is there any chance that they will take place in a free and democratic manner?

 

Some parties are boycotting the elections and some have called for them to be postponed, but others are still in the running, at least for some of the polls. The elections have not been cancelled or postponed by the National Electoral Commission. We are watching closely to see what happens.

 

Our objective is to have first-hand, direct observation, if elections take place. Then we will evaluate everything and tell the world what we have heard and seen. This is why we are heading to Khartoum Thursday as initially planned, despite all the confusing and disturbing news.

 

These elections are important for Africa, because the future of Sudan, Africa's largest country, is in question. These elections are part of the CPA (Comprehensive Peace Agreement) of 2005, which ended a 50-year war in which over 2 million people died. They are a necessary step for the referendum on the independence of Southern Sudan scheduled for January. The alternative could be war and nobody wants to see that.

 

Sudan is the biggest country in Africa with many languages. Does the election observation mission have enough resources to credibly assess how the elections are run?

 

The EU mission organised by the European Commission is there for a long period and is adequately staffed by qualified experts with the necessary languages skills. The EP observation mission is short-term and more focused on how the elections proceed.

 

We have very experienced people on the ground, who have observed elections in all corners of the world, we cannot be fooled...We go without prejudgements and because all parties want us to be there, but we go with a full understanding of the risks.

 

We will be faithful to our mandate by telling the truth about what happens. Only in this way will we enhance Europe's credibility, in particular in the eyes of the Sudanese who want democracy and the rule of law.

 

The Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM, ex-rebels from the South of the country, now part of the governmental coalition) will boycott some of the elections because of the risk of fraud and insecurity. Could that threaten January's referendum on Southern Sudan?

 

The SPLM has withdrawn its presidential candidate and won't run in Darfur, but will stand for legislative, regional and municipal elections. The SPLM and most people in the South want the elections because they see a connection with the referendum foreseen for January 2011.

 

That is why, despite all the problems and risks, they want these elections to take place. And it is one reason why we Europeans should be there to observe, evaluate independently and share our assessment with the world.