Sudan summons Britain, US envoys over elections criticism

Sudan’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday summoned the ambassadors of Britain, Norway and the US along with the European Union envoy in Khartoum following a statement by the three countries criticising the recent general elections.

The Sudanese people last week cast their votes in the presidential and legislative polls, with election results set to be announced on April 27.

Regional organisations such as the African Union, the Inter-Governmental Authority for Development in Africa and the Arab League monitored the Sudanese elections along with several countries including China, Russia and Turkey.

The ministry’s under-secretary Abdalla Hamad Al-Azraq conveyed its condemnation of the three countries’ statement as “erroneous information and prejudgment of the elections in Sudan”.

The ministry condemned in a statement “in the strongest terms” the remarks of Troika (Norway, the UK, and the US), deeming it a “flagrant intervention in Sudan’s internal affairs”.

“The elections are an outright Sudanese affair where only the Sudanese population get to decide, and no other party has the right to intervene nor express an opinion regarding it,” the statement said.

The proclamation noted that a considerable number of political parties participated widely in the electoral campaign and most opposition parties that boycotted the elections had not objected to its implementation.

“The Troika’s description deliberately ignored attempts by rebel movements to destabilise security during the electoral process through direct bombardment of Kadogli aiming to prevent citizens from casting their votes and crippling elections in South Kordofan State,” the ministry said.

It reiterated Sudan’s determination to continue its efforts targeting a successful Sudanese national dialogue initiative following the announcement of election results and the formation of a new government.

According to Sudanese local media, primary election results indicate a strong lead for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and for his ruling National Congress Party.