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Mr Jean Ping, Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), has decided to deploy an election observation mission to the Sudan for the general elections scheduled for 11 to 13 April 2010. Led by His Excellency Mr John Kufuor, former President of the Republic of Ghana, the AU Mission is expected to make an independent and impartial observation of the Sudan General Election.
An advance team of eight monitors were also deployed to Sudan on March 18, 2010 in conformity with the Electoral Code of Conduct drawn up by the African Union High Level Panel on Darfur (AUHIP). It stipulates that "the African Union shall promote mechanisms for monitoring the implementation of this code". Accordingly, the advance team of monitors is working closely with political parties and relevant authorities to promote the implementation of the Electoral Code of Conduct. Prepared by the AUHIP, the Code has been signed by 26 political parties contesting the forthcoming elections.
The AU Observer Mission is expected to observe the Sudanese elections in accordance with the AU Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa and the AU Guidelines for Election Observation and Monitoring. Based in Khartoum and in Juda, the AU Observer Mission is also expected to liaise with the National Electoral Commission and other election stakeholders.
The AU Mission to be deployed across Sudan is composed of fifty personalities including Ambassadors, members of national parliaments, members of the Pan African Parliament, high officials of national electoral bodies, members of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the AU (ECOSSOC), members of the African Human Rights Court and representatives of the African Civil Society.
As background, in 2005 the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed by the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) put forth, democratic and multiparty elections as an obligation in the implementation process of the National Unity Government of Sudan.