By David Ochami

Sudanese living in Kenya rushed to their embassy on Monday to register for the April 2010 national and local elections.

Voter registration for presidential, national and local elections in Africa’s largest country began at the start of November to run for 30 days but only commenced for the Sudanese Diaspora in Kenya on Monday.

Mr Majok Guandong, Sudan’s ambassador to Kenya said the country’s foreign mission would register Sudanese who meet stringent nationality and eligibility conditions.

The elections next April will be Sudan’s first national polls following the 2005 signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended that country’s North-South civil war.

The last important elections in Sudan were held in 1985 bringing in the Government of former Prime Minister Sadiq al Mahdi who was ousted by incumbent President Hassan Omar al Bashir in a 1989 coup. Bashir has been indicted for war crimes in Darfur but wants to be elected president next April.

"It is an important milestone in the implementation of the CPA," said Majok on Monday, referring to the start of the exercise at the embassy.

"We will ask for more days (for registration) because we lost some days. The registration of voters should take 30 days," said Majok who added that Sudan’s National Elections Commission had allowed Sudanese in 14 countries to participate in the polls.

He said eligible voters must be 18 years old with a Sudanese passport and valid residence permit in Kenya.

Sudanese with nationality of other countries can register to vote if they provide proof of legal residence in Kenya, said Majok.

He added Sudanese in refugee camps could apply for passports if they meet nationality requirements.

The envoy said registration centres will be opened in Nakuru, Eldoret and other places, including South Sudan’s mission in Nairobi and other parts of Kenya will Sudanese populations.

There are about 40,000 Sudanese in Kenya, according to the envoy, who says about 24,000 live in UN refugee camps, in North Eastern and North Western Kenya.