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Sudan's Bashir nominated to vie for presidency
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Jan 14, 2010 - 7:20:53 AM

 

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Africa

Sudan's Bashir nominated to vie for presidency

Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir. Photo/ FILE 

By LUCAS BARASAPosted Thursday, January 14 2010 at 10:41

In Summary

  • The elections will be the first democratic ballot in Africa's biggest country in 25 years.

 

Sudan President Omar al Bashir has been nominated to vie for the presidency in the April election.

The elections will be the first democratic ballot in Africa's biggest country in 25 years.

The National Elections Commission said Field Marshal (rtd) Bashir received support of more than 31,000 voters to vie for the presidency.

A statement from the Sudan Embassy in Nairobi said: "The Head of the National Authority for Election Campaign Abdul Rahman Sowar Al-Dahab said that the Government of National Unity parties proposed Al-Bashir for nomination as presidential candidate explaining that 31,102 citizens from 25 states have backed him for the presidency."

Mr Al-Dahab said Mr Bashir was unanimously elected as he had the interests of all Sudanese at heart and that was crucial for national unity and reunification.

Vice President Ali Osman Mohammed Taha is among key figures in support of Mr Bashir, who is facing charges from the International Criminal Court over war in Darfur.

NEC also received the nomination for presidency of Mohammed Al-Hassan Mohammed Al-Hassan from the National Reform Party and the candidate of Progress and Social Justice Party Mukhtar Obeid Mukhtar.

The 31,000 support Mr Bashir got, represents 200 percent of voters required by NEC.

Political parties supporting Mr Bashir said the nomination is meant to complete the national and historical role he has been playing, and that he stands as a symbol of national unity, "a safety valve for the attainment of the higher national objectives set by the agreements and plans related to the completion of the peace process and democratic transformation."

Besides, the document stressed: "Al Bashir stands out as a common denominator who has implemented what his national duties, his historical and constitutional responsibilities dictated with regard to the execution of the stipulations of the peace accords and of the strategic plans."

The document, the National Accord Document for the Nomination of Omar al Bashir, has stressed that the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in 2005 and the subsequent agreements such as the Darfur Peace Agreement, the Cairo Accord, the Eastern Sudan agreement, stand as historical pillars in the course of the modern Sudan history.

The document also said Mr Bashir was pursuing the aspirations of all people in Sudan including an end to the war and bloodletting that have impeded the development process in the country.

Others are participation in running the affairs of the country in a just and fair manner, the division of wealth and sharing of power in a way that would remove any social, political and cultural grievances, exerting more efforts and speeding up steps for the implementation of plans of action agreed upon in line with Interim Constitution with the view to effect democratic transformation and make the desired social peace that will lead to political stability in reality.

The document said these elements constitute the ground for the country's overture on the world and removal of all siege and all criticisms that have been impeding to a great extent the country's chances of merger with the international economy.

Mr Bashir has since stepped down as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces in readiness for the elections.

Mr Bashir is expected to receive a stiff challenge in the polls from southern Sudan President Salva Kiir who is the leader of former rebels Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army.

 



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