Nearly all Sudanese opposition parties have joined the southern SPLM in pulling out of this month’s elections, citing fears of rigging and insecurity, BBC online reports Thursday.
The boycott is a major blow to the credibility of the election – the first national multi-party poll for 24 years. President Omar al-Bashir, wanted for alleged war crimes in Darfur, now faces only one major challenger.
Veteran Islamist leader Hassan al-Turabi confirmed that candidates from his Popular Congress Party would contest the poll, to be held 11-13 April. But the Umma party of former Prime Minister Sadiq al-Mahdi, the Democratic Unionist Party and the Communist party have all said they will no longer participate.
The opposition parties and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) – which serves in a coalition at national level with President Omar al-Bashir – all believe the electoral process has been rigged in favour of his National Congress Party.
They say the registration process has been flawed, and their access to state media and rights to hold rallies restricted.
