No fraud in Sudan poll, says monitor

There was no fraud or rigging in Sudan’s elections, according to the Arab-European independent observer mission. But the mission did note logistical problems and said it was difficult to assess what impact they would have on the result of the polls.

Reuters

It said electoral staff were not adequately trained and that the registration and identification of voters was not perfect.

The African Union described the elections as free and fair while, observers from European Union and the former US president Jimmy Carter's election monitor, the Carter Centre, said the elections failed to reach international standards.

“The opposition in making these allegations also refer to events that took place prior to the election,” said the Arab-European independent observer mission’s Paul Hadler.
“I assume that could be linked to registration of voters. My impression is based on what actually happened during the election itself.”

He pointed out that a very high percentage of women went to the polls. Ballot papers were delivered late, and sometimes incorrectly, but there were no reports of serious violence.

“Personnel lacked training and understanding of the regulations, but our team has not observed any attempts at fraud when it comes to the counting of votes, at least not so far,” said Hadler.

The former rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) said the first day of polling was wasted because of procedural problems, but the vote was later extended by two days.

LISTEN

02:24

Paul Hadler of the Arab-European independent observer mission in Khartoum.

Zeenat Hansrod

Several opposition parties withdrew from the ballot before it got underway, saying that President Omar el-Bashir's National Congress Party were engineering the poll to ensure victory.

It is Sudan's first multi-party election since 1986, and many in the south see it as a dress rehearsal for a referendum on southern independence, scheduled to take place in January.

The National Congress Party says if it wins it will include opposition parties in the government, including those that boycotted the election.