The first multiparty presidential race in Sudan since 1986 is being held this Sunday, and current president al-Bashir is "pushing hard for a win in war-torn Darfur." However, the people of Darfur are not pushing hard to get to the polling stations. Many believe that the election is fixed to keep al-Bashir (who is currently wanted for alleged war crimes in the western region of Darfur) in office. Since 2003 millions of people have been driven out of their land and 300,000 have been killed "in a war that was marked by atrocities by pro-government Arab militias against Darfur villagers." The attitudes of many of the refugees can be summed up in this phrase: "The government brought us here with weapons. I will never vote for them." 2.5 million of the refugees in the western Darfur region have not even registered to vote. Other parties have pulled out of the election because they too believe that the election is fixed. While the government says that it will be a fair election, polling stations have been cut in half from 20,000 making it harder for remote villagers to vote. One refugee said, "I myself do not have the right to return to my village in safety. How can I think about voting?" This election which is essential to 2005 peace deal that ended the 21 years of war between the north and south (which killed 2 million), is supposed to kick-start democratic transformation. However, it is suspected that the unfair election will only fuel the rebel movement.
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wirestory?id=10339551&page=1
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8563190.stm

Posted by: Erin Burneson