Former President Kufuor speaks on Sudan elections

Accra, April 5, GNA - Former President John Agyekum Kufuor, has stated that the African Union does not favour any of the contesting political parties in the impending general elections in Sudan. A statement signed by his spokesperson, Mr Frank Agyekum said, the Union's interest was the smooth conduct of the elections to help Sudan to return to peace and stability.

Sudan goes to the polls from April 11 to April 13 this month for the first time in more than 25 years to elect a President and a 450-member National Assembly.

The statement said speaking at a Press Conference at the Grand Holiday Villas in Khartoum, Sudan, former President Kufuor, who led a 50-member AU Observer Mission, said the delegations are in Sudan as impartial and neutral election observers who did not owe any allegiance to any of the contending parties.

President Kufuor explained that their duty is to observe the conduct of the elections in accordance with the AU's Declaration Principles governing elections in Africa.

The 50-member AU Observer Mission is expected to determine at the end of the elections whether it was conducted in accordance with the constitution and laws of Sudan.

The Mission includes National Electoral Commissioners, Members of the Pan-African Parliament, members of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the AU and representatives from Civil Society Organizations. They are also expected to determine the credibility of the whole electoral process in terms of providing a level playing field to all parties in their access to the media, movement and freedom of choice. The European Union has also sent delegations to observe the elections. 5 April 10