Perspectives on Sudan'’s Upcoming Elections

In April, Sudan is scheduled to hold national elections in the midst of a tense peace between North and South and an ongoing conflict in the western province of Darfur. These elections represent a critical test for the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended a 20-year conflict between the Muslim North and the mainly Christian and traditional South Sudan. Sudanese throughout the country will vote for a president, parliament, and state governors, while southerners will also vote for their regional president and parliament. If free and fair, these elections — the first genuine multi-party national elections since 1986 — will represent a milestone in the implementation of this peace agreement. They will also provide insight into the prospects for a successfully held referendum on secession for South Sudan in early 2011. From their various perspectives, our panel of experts discussed these issues and others.