Election and dialogue in Sudan Kamal Ahmad Musa

The coalition of Sudanese opposition has been calling for toppling the ruling power using all tools at their disposal and subsequently realizing their promise to Sudanese people of an interim stage and government. While, the Umma Party has taken another turn that is installing a new regime but has never apparently explained the way for attaining that purpose. Sometimes, it instigates a civil strife, sit-downs in public squares, protests and processions. But in this respect, not even a single step has been leapt. On another occasion, it is involved in a dialogue with it that has never been concluded up to this day. Thus, neither the opposition alliance nor the Umma Party has succeeded in achieving their goals. The Nationalist Democratic Party pleaded for the same thig as the opposing alliance did without proclaiming the overthrow, survival or replacement of regime. The transitional period is a must after the termination of the present legislative term that will be in effect till April, 2015. Then, there will be an accord generated through a dialogue with Sudan Government. That necessarily implies the postponement of next election for a time agreed upon during the dialogue conference that has been recently acknowledged by the National Congress. In the recent conference, it was hoped that there would be a deal pertaining to the duration of transitional period. Its government, constitution, enactment of election law, formation of new electoral commission prior to that there should be a cease-fire agreement so that those who raise arms participate in the prospective dialogue. In a prelude to that, there should be a release of public freedoms, political detainees and prisoners etc , otherwise dialogue will be conducted in vain.
The Uinonist Party called for an interim government and transitional phase following the end of the current legislative term. It is moderate a mong those who aspire to the collapse of regime and those who want a new regime without specifying the mechanism for its creation. The proponents of changing the regime accepted dialogue and so did Umma Party.
The party declared its acceptance of any mechanism consistent with the democracy and respect of opinions. The Unionist Party called on all parties to promote the culture of settlement and a genuine national reconciliation taking into account the cumulative spirit of Sudanese achievements and successive bilateral national agreements such the Comprehensive peace agreement (CPA) between Mirghani and Gharang and Jedda accord hoping that their expertise should be coupled with what is mutually agreed upon.
The National Congress it has proposed National consensus, it has re-iterated its rejection of pre-conditions for the dialogue and that all should come with an open mind, heart and chest, however, it has eventually placed a condition such as the prohibition of election or its deferment. Such a condition hampers the dialogue process as it takes place after the end of legislative term and that election should be put off until finalizing the transitional period. The dialogue will decide its duration, government and programme.
The preparation of a democratic law that allows the peace ful devolution of power requires profiting from the previous electoral experiences, its limitations and positive outcomes. We should opt for a new polling system that is appropriate for the up-coming stage to accomplish national unity, political stability, the aspirations and demands of the poor selfless Sudanese e people. The fair and just election law is one in which one is legible for all his voting rights. We are about to pass new election law to surpass the existing governance crisis. Under a transitional rule, a new election law can be enacted to achieve its goals. It is untrue in democracy that what decides is the election ballot. It has become apparent that alone is not enough as the choice of majority isn’t the right option. If we are to discriminate between the minority and majority that should be taken into consideration. Back to the National Congress, Does want a dialogue that leads to national consensus or want to distract political parties. As one the president addressed the parliament: “Election is the arbiter” The coming election should be secured with new electoral law, election commission under a transitional government to deliberate the permanent constitution of Sudan.