As Parliamentarians from 12 countries, we are deeply concerned about the inadequate level of preparation for the upcoming elections in Sudan and the threat of violence and intimidation to civil society. The building blocks of a free and fair election – from legislation to logistics – are not in place.
We know first-hand that elections can hold great promise but they can be vulnerable to manipulation and seldom come without risk. We are concerned at reports that the National Security Law is still being used to intimidate those involved in campaigning and monitoring. We fear that domestic and international monitors will not be granted freedom of movement to monitor the elections or freedom to report on election related activities. And we are alarmed by reports at inadequate planning to provide protection for civilians in the case of violence.
The elections will take place in a volatile situation. A resolution to the Darfur conflict has not yet been found and there is increasing violence in Southern Sudan. At present, we fear that there will be inadequate opportunity for Darfuri participation in the elections. If this is the case, elections will intensify feelings of marginalization, frustrate attempts to secure a peaceful resolution to Sudan’s crises and could breed further conflict.
This requires resolute calls for standards of free and fairness and a commitment to expose any misconduct or human rights abuses that occur. The elections are the first test of your commitment and resolve. We urge you to stand by your obligations by:
Sudan is at a turning point. Only the people of Sudan – both Northerners and Southerners – can decide what future they wish to see for their country and their children. Our duty is to support them through the process of making that decision. If peaceful and legitimate, this process should help build a better future. But, if marked by violence and abuse, it will only perpetuate the trauma and suffering that has scarred Sudan for too long.
As parliamentarians from around the world, we believe it is important to provide international support to Sudanese parliamentarians, to enable them to fulfill their democratic mandates and work for a peaceful resolution of conflicts in Sudan. We stand ready to support them through the critical year ahead.
Parliamentarians from 12 countries warn conditions for free and fair elections in Sudan not in place
Letter warns lack of participation in Darfur could breed further conflict
(City Friday 9th April) Dozens of parliamentarians from 12 countries have today come together to express their concern about the upcoming elections in Sudan and call on the guarantors of Sudan’s Comprehensive Peace Agreement to expose any electoral misconduct or human rights abuses that occur. The elections are scheduled to take place from Sunday 11th to Tuesday 13th April.
The parliamentarians, from Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia, have written a public letter (full text below) to the guarantors of the peace agreement – African Union, Egypt, European Union, Italy, Kenya (IGAD), League of Arab States, Netherlands, Norway, UK, Uganda (IGAD) and US – to say they are ‘deeply concerned about the inadequate level of preparation for the upcoming elections in Sudan and the threat of violence and intimidation to civil society’ and to call on guarantors to condemn breaches of international standards.
The elections were intended to be a milestone in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement that was signed in 2005 and brought an end to one of Africa’s longest civil wars in which over 2 million people died. This public statement comes amid growing reports of harassment and intimidation of opposition activists, the withdrawal of major opposition groups from significant parts of the election and the EU’s decision to withdraw its Election Observation Mission from Darfur.
The parliamentarians – over thirty from Afghanistan to UK, France to Morocco, Kuwait to Australia – have warned that ‘the building blocks of a free and fair election – from legislation to logistics – are not in place.’ The parliamentarians say that they ‘know first-hand that elections can hold great promise but they can be vulnerable to manipulation’. The parliamentarians express fears that:
- The National Security Law is still being used to intimidate those involved in campaigning and monitoring.
- Domestic and international monitors will not be granted freedom of movement to monitor the elections
- There is inadequate planning to provide protection for civilians in the case of violence.
- There will be inadequate opportunity for Darfuri participation in the elections which could intensify feelings of marginalization, frustrate attempts to secure a peaceful resolution to Sudan’s crises and breed further conflict.
The letter states that ‘the guarantors of the CPA – those governments and organisations that witnessed the signing of the CPA and committed to support enact it – have a duty and obligation to set and uphold high standards for its implementation’. It calls the elections the ‘first test of [their] commitment and resolve’. The parliamentarians urge the guarantors to stand by their obligations by:
- Upholding international standards for free and fair elections and issue joint condemnations for breaches of these standards
- Taking swift action in the event of any violence around the elections
- Supporting swift planning for legitimate and peaceful popular consultations and southern referendum
The parliamentarians end the letter by warning that ‘if peaceful and legitimate, this process should help build a better future. But, if marked by violence and abuse, it will only perpetuate the trauma and suffering that has scarred Sudan for too long’ and pledging to support Sudanese parliamentarians work for a resolution of crises in Sudan.
Editors Notes:
For further information, please contact Crisis Action on +44 207 269 9450 or +44 7951 244362.
Full letter and signatories (for publication):
To Guarantors of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement
As Parliamentarians from 12 countries, we are deeply concerned about the inadequate level of preparation for the upcoming elections in Sudan and the threat of violence and intimidation to civil society. The building blocks of a free and fair election – from legislation to logistics – are not in place.
We know first-hand that elections can hold great promise but they can be vulnerable to manipulation and seldom come without risk. We are concerned at reports that the National Security Law is still being used to intimidate those involved in campaigning and monitoring. We fear that domestic and international monitors will not be granted freedom of movement to monitor the elections or freedom to report on election related activities. And we are alarmed by reports at inadequate planning to provide protection for civilians in the case of violence.
The elections will take place in a volatile situation. A resolution to the Darfur conflict has not yet been found and there is increasing violence in Southern Sudan. At present, we fear that there will be inadequate opportunity for Darfuri participation in the elections. If this is the case, elections will intensify feelings of marginalization, frustrate attempts to secure a peaceful resolution to Sudan’s crises and could breed further conflict.
The conduct of legitimate elections is vital to the process of democratic transformation, as promised to the people of Sudan by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). This process involves elections, popular consultations and finally a referendum for southern Sudan on whether to secede from the North. These defining moments should be an opportunity for all sectors of Sudanese society to shape their collective future. The guarantors of the CPA – those governments and organisations that witnessed the signing of the CPA and committed to support enact it – have a duty and obligation to set and uphold high standards for its implementation.
This requires resolute calls for standards of free and fairness and a commitment to expose any misconduct or human rights abuses that occur. The elections are the first test of your commitment and resolve. We urge you to stand by your obligations by:
- Upholding international standards for free and fair elections and issuing joint condemnations for breaches of these standards
- Taking swift action in the event of any violence around the elections
- Supporting swift planning for legitimate and peaceful popular consultations and southern referendum
Sudan is at a turning point. Only the people of Sudan – both Northerners and Southerners – can decide what future they wish to see for their country and their children. Our duty is to support them through the process of making that decision. If peaceful and legitimate, this process should help build a better future. But, if marked by violence and abuse, it will only perpetuate the trauma and suffering that has scarred Sudan for too long.
As parliamentarians from around the world, we believe it is important to provide international support to Sudanese parliamentarians, to enable them to fulfill their democratic mandates and work for a peaceful resolution of conflicts in Sudan. We stand ready to support them through the critical year ahead.
Yours sincerely
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Australia
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Janelle Safgin
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Afghanistan
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Ghulam Hassan Gran, Secretary General, Wolesi Jirga (House of Representatives), National Assembly of Afghanistan
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Afghanistan
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Sayed Ahmad Farid Kazimi, Chief of Staff, General Secretariat, Wolesi Jirga, National Assembly of Afghanistan
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Bahrain
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Mr. Ali Qasem Rabeia
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Bahrain
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Mr. Jasem Murad
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France
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Jean Louis Christ
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France
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Serge Janquin, Member of the foreign affairs commission in the national parliament
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Egypt
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Mr. Salah Alsayik
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Egypt
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Dr. Saber Atta
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Germany
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Angelika Beer, Former MEP and Co-chair Parliamentarians Network for Conflict Prevention and Human Security
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Germany
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Christoph Strässer,MP
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Italy
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Gianni Verneti, President of ‘Italia – Darfur’, a special committee of Italian Parliament
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Italy
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Pietro Marcenaro, President of Human Rights Commission of Italian Senate
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Kuwait
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Dr. Rola Dashti
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Mauritania
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Mr. Mohamed Wald Mohamed Al-Amin
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Mauritania
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Mr. Wan Sao
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Morocco
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Mr. El –Hassan Fatahallah
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UK
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Lord Alton
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UK
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Earl of Sandwich
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UK
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Lord Steel
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UK
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Paul Flynn
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UK
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David Drew
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UK
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Baroness Cox
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UK
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Lindsay Northover, Liberal Democrats Spokesperson on International Development, House of Lords
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Yemen
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Mr. Shawqi El-Qadi
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Yemen
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Mr. Sultan Hezam
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Yemen
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Mr. Mohamed Nagi Allao
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Yemen
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Dr. Abdel Qadous Al-Mudwahi
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Yemen
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Mr. Sakhr Al-Wageeh
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Yemen
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Dr. Abdel Bari Al-Dughaish
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Yemen
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Dr. Aydarous Al-Naqeeb
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Yemen
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Dr. Mohamed Saleh Al-Qoubat
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