By Jennifer M. Haralambides
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

KHARTOUM, Sudan – On the verge of Sudan’s first multi-party election in over twenty years, the opposition Umma party announced that it will boycott the elections if President Omar al-Bashir cannot ensure that they will be “free and fair.”

The Umma party, in conjunction with other opposition parties, gave authorities four days to implement reforms.  If the reforms are implemented, the opposition parties have said they will participate in the elections.  If the reforms fail, the election will be boycotted.

The major impetus for the opposition’s possible boycott stem from allegations of fraud against President al-Bashir.  The opposition is demanding, among other things, the end of “repressive security measures” and a four-week delay in the election, so that a new supervisory body over the election commission may be set up.   Additional demands include “equitable access to state media, public funds for political parties and a commitment to Darfuri representation in the presidency.”

President al-Bashir, who came to power in a coup in 1986 and currently is wanted for alleged war crimes in Darfur, has resolutely refused to extend the date of the elections.

For their part, Sudanese citizens appear to support having the elections, as opposed to the alternative.  One citizen, and English teacher, told AFP reporters that “[w]e don’t know if this boycott is final or not, but we don’t like the idea . . . It’s better to have the elections. With elections comes change, and we need change. Better to have elections than nothing at all.”

The war-torn country has not seen a democratic election since the coup that brought al-Bashir to power some twenty-four years ago.  Since that time 1.5 million Sudanese have died in the religious conflict between the mainly Muslim North and the South, which is populated mainly by those who follow traditional beliefs or are Christian.

For more information, please see:

AFP – Sudan Opposition Party Suggests Election Compromise – 2 April 2010

BBC News – Sudan:-Umma Opposition Party Gives Bashir Ultimatum – 2 April 2010

Independent Online  – Sudanese Not Bothered by Election Boycott – 2 April 2010

Reuters – End Violent South African Protests: Deputy President – 2 April 2010