Sudanese lagging in preparation for national elections, UN reports

Sudan’s institutions are yet to take a number of basic steps to prepare for long-awaited national elections scheduled for next year, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warns in a report released today that stresses the need for authorities to ensure a free and fair electoral environment.

The Government of National Unity, the National Assembly and the Government of Southern Sudan must “guarantee basic political freedoms, including the freedom of assembly, speech and the press,” according to the report on the progress towards legislative and executive elections slated for April 2010.

“Concrete steps and outreach in this regard would help to strengthen popular confidence in the process,” Mr. Ban writes, adding that the elections, if staged successfully, “can provide an important opportunity to strengthen national reconciliation and democratic transformation.”

He praises Sudanese authorities for some of the steps they have already taken, including the establishment of the National Elections Commission, the registration of political parties, the adoption of election laws and the appointment of key committees.

But he notes that overall the election preparations “remain seriously behind schedule,” with several outstanding issues to be resolved, including differences regarding how the results of the recent census should be used.

Civic education for voters must be stepped up, the Secretary-General says, while the National Elections Commission must make sure that internally displaced persons (IDPs) and those without the necessary papers are not unreasonably prevented from voting, particularly in the Darfur region.

Logistical and budgetary concerns also need to be tackled, the report states, calling for a two-phase approach to preparations.

The United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) should firstly provide technical support to election officials across the country, and not just southern Sudan, while both UNMIS and the joint African Union-UN peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) should start training local police in election security.

Then UNMIS should help with the transport of election materials, and further bolster its technical and training support.

Meanwhile, speaking to journalists today at UN Headquarters in New York, Mr. Ban said he remained concerns that UNAMID is still lacking critical assets such as helicopters.

“Twenty-four helicopters were needed, and we have secured only six helicopters. Now, we need 18 helicopters more. I have been discussing this issue with almost all the leaders of the countries who, I thought, would be able to provide, or would have some capacity to provide, helicopters, but I have not been able to get this support. We really need some political will.”

Mr. Ban said the UN would also continue to mobilize humanitarian resources to ensure ongoing support for Darfur’s large population of IDPs and other people in need.

In response to a question regarding an UNMIS employee, Lubna al-Hussein, who is reported to be facing 40 lashes from authorities for wearing pants, the Secretary-General said he was deeply concerned by the case.

“The United Nations will make every effort to ensure that the rights of its staff members are protected. The flogging is against the international human rights standards. I call on all parties to live up to their obligations under all relevant international instruments.”