Secretary-General Congratulates Participants in Sudan’s National Elections

 

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

Today, polls closed across Sudan in the country’s first national elections in 24 years.  The Secretary-General congratulates all those who participated in the elections, which, despite the reported irregularities and opposition boycotts, took place without any major incident of violence.  Following early delays and logistical challenges, the Secretary-General welcomes the extension of the voting period from three to five days, which allowed more people to exercise their right to vote.

In the coming days and weeks, the Secretary-General calls on all political leaders and their supporters to refrain from actions that could jeopardize the peaceful conclusion of the electoral process.  Electoral grievances should be addressed through appropriate legal and institutional channels and reviewed in a fair and transparent manner.

The Secretary-General welcomes efforts of the ruling parties to engage with opposition candidates and parties, including those who boycotted the polls.  The Secretary-General encourages all political actors in Sudan to tackle issues in a spirit of dialogue, towards a peaceful electoral outcome and ongoing implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

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For information media • not an official record