OAU observers commend elections

A nine-member observer team from the Organisation of Africa Unity (OAU) commended the General Elections Authority for the recently-held legislative and presidential elections. “The arrangements... allowed the Sudanese people, including those outside the country to freely exercise their democratic rights,” said an OAU statement issued 23 December. The OAU observer team also said it congratulated “the Sudanese people in general for their maturity, patience and the disciplined manner which they manifested throughout the process.” According to the OAU, the team had witnessed various aspects of the process, including administrative arrangements, campaigns and poling activities, as well as holding discussions with all five presidential candidates, and other political parties, including those who boycotted the elections. The team “took note of their concerns, such as the handling of the voters’ rolls, the airtime accorded by the government television and radio stations, the high proposing and insurance fees charged to sponsors and their candidates.” Other complaints had focused on the lack of sufficient resources for the parties to participate effectively, said the OAU. The report said it would submit the reported and observed problems to the General election s Authority. Saying the elections marked an “important step towards democratisation”, it noted that there would be some “inevitable” logistical challenges in a country of about 30 million. However, there was no specific mention of war-affected areas, like southern Sudan, where many people were unable to cast their ballot or participate in the process.