UN Secretary-General’s Panel on the Referenda in the Sudan notes conclusion of registration for Southern Sudan vote

16 December

Voter registration for the forthcoming Southern Sudan referendum concluded yesterday in Sudan, although an extension was granted to some out-of-country registration sites to accommodate the late start of registration in these locations.

The Secretary-General’s Panel on the Referenda in the Sudan welcomes the peaceful and orderly conduct of the registration and the timely organization of the process. The Panel commends the performance of the Southern Sudan Referendum Commission (SSRC) and the Southern Sudan Referendum Bureau (SSRB), who have been operating under heavy constraints with tight deadlines, and limitations in communications infrastructure, as well as financial and human resources. The Panel also commends the decision to extend voter registration from 1 to 8 December. This allowed for further public outreach, and gave more time for eligible voters to register.

The Panel believes that the process was transparent and free from organized manipulation: it was monitored by the Panel’s own teams across the country, as well as by domestic and international observers. The Panel notes that these achievements of the SSRC are the basis for a credible referendum which can take place on the scheduled date, 9 January 2011.

The Panel also wishes to draw attention to some observations drawn by its monitoring teams.

Issues of eligibility appear to have generated little controversy and very few registrants were turned away. But, in some areas, eligible voters are making complex decisions about their personal future in a climate of political uncertainty. Some eligible voters in Northern Sudan feared that information submitted during registration might be used in future to question their rights to citizenship or residency. The lack of agreement between the two parties to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) about future citizenship and property arrangements in the case of secession has only exacerbated these concerns.

Furthermore, the practices of Popular Committees, legally constituted neighbourhood organizations, have done nothing to allay the Southerners’ fears. The Panel notes with concern that Popular Committees have established tents outside registration centres in the North, taking names and other details from registrants, and which may have deterred eligible persons from registering.

Other voters may have been influenced by an unofficial campaign encouraging Southerners to register and vote only in Southern Sudan.

Nevertheless, in the Panel’s opinion, they do not invalidate the credibility of the process. It will continue raising its concerns with key stakeholders, including the need for all sides to create a secure and positive environment for the referendum.

The Panel is gravely concerned about Abyei. There has been no progress in preparations for the Abyei Area referendum due to disagreements over voter eligibility, preventing the establishment of the Abyei Area Referendum Commission. The status of Abyei is currently subject to negotiations between the CPA parties, and the Panel urges both parties to reach an agreement that is acceptable to the local residents. The Panel commends the patience exercised by the residents of Abyei so far, and urges the parties to refrain from any action that could negatively affect the Area’s fragile peace.

The next phase of preparation for the Southern Sudan referendum is the exhibition and objections process. From 10 until 17 December, all registration centres will display a preliminary register, and registered voters are encouraged to check the list, and to submit objections if they find errors or disagree with the names included. The Panel encourages the SSRC to ensure that all registered voters are made aware of procedures for submitting objections and corrections; that its staff is adequately trained in the procedures; and that the required mechanisms are in place.

The Panel urges the Government of Sudan and the Government of Southern Sudan to make prompt and full payment of their commitments towards the funding of the referenda processes and for the donor community to fulfil their commitments as well. This includes ensuring that registration staff and security personnel involved in the referendum process are paid in a timely manner.

Finally, the Panel encourages both parties to the CPA to do their utmost to find agreement on outstanding post-referendum issues. By doing so, uncertainties of the future could be addressed and thus further contribute to an enabling environment to hold the Southern Sudan referendum. The Panel welcomes the political engagement on the outstanding issues by the parties to the CPA and the international community, and calls on all concerned to bring these issues to an early and peaceful resolution.

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The Panel is playing a good offices role on behalf of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to strengthen confidence in the Sudanese-led referenda process, and to encourage the parties and relevant authorities to resolve any significant problems or disputes as they emerge. Mr. Ban formed the Panel after a request from the two parties to Sudan’s CPA, who sought a UN monitoring body to help enhance the credibility of the referenda and therefore ensure the acceptance of their result by their constituencies and the international community.

The Panel members are: Benjamin Mkapa, former President of Tanzania; António Monteiro, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal; and Bhojraj Pokharel, former Chairman of the Election Commission of Nepal.