Embassy of Sudan - Press Releases

Embassy of the Republic of Sudan
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07/08/08

National Elections Act: A Milestone Towards Peace And Democracy

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7/8/2008
In accordance with the provisions of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), Sudan’s parliament passed the National Elections Act of 2008, on Monday, marking yet another significant milestone in the country’s transition towards peace and democracy. The draft electoral law was tabled by Sudan’s National Assembly for two weeks, during which it incurred 67 amendments before it was passed. It gained the approval of a majority 350 members, 14 oppositions and 2 abstentions.

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In accordance with the provisions of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), Sudan’s parliament passed the National Elections Act of 2008, on Monday, marking yet another significant milestone in the country’s transition towards peace and democracy. The draft electoral law was tabled by Sudan’s National Assembly for two weeks, during which it incurred 67 amendments before it was passed. It gained the approval of a majority 350 members, 14 oppositions and 2 abstentions.

This monumental Act provides parameters and guidelines for procedures governing the upcoming elections as well as functions and terms of service of the National Election Commission, a body to be formed within a month of the adoption date and is to be composed of 7 to 9 impartial and representative national figures. The mandate and independence of the NEC will be provided for and monitored by the National Constitutional Review Commission (NCRC), a measure to ensure that the elections will be free, fair and transparent as called for by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

The new law stipulates that elections will be 60% geographical constituencies while 40% of the seats in parliament are reserved for proportional representation. From the latter percentage, women, in separate elections, are to occupy 25% of the legislative seats and the remaining 15% will go to Parties lists. The law is a major breakthrough. It allows for the representation of the most marginalized in the country.

This development signals the dawning of a new political and social climate in Sudan that holds hope for all its citizens. It follows a series of actions taken by the Major political groups in the country to resolve the remaining outstanding issues in the agreement. There is also a project underway among all the political forces in the country aimed at achieving a national consensus that aspires for peace, stability and democracy for every Sudanese. And the upcoming elections will be crucial in ensuring the realization of the vision.

Sudan has been furiously working to address all the obstacles that stand in its path towards peace. Among the salient issues recently overcome by the partnership of the National Congress Party and the SPLM was that of Abyei.The parties have faithfully moved to implement another key item of the Road Map Agreement by signing the convention on the Abyei which will be deposited within a week to Hauge International Court of Arbitration. With regards to Darfur, a new Joint AU-UN envoy, Djibril Bassole of Burkina Faso, was recently appointed and talks between the government and any rebels serious about peace will soon commence.

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