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Sudan: Politics and Government

Volume 481: debated on Monday 27 October 2008

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to encourage the establishment of an effective National Election Commission in Sudan. (225942)

Through our embassy in Khartoum, we have pressed the Sudanese Government to appoint a credible and effective National Election Commission (NEC) without delay, as an essential step for free and fair elections. The electoral law, passed on 9 July 2008, stipulated the appointment of the NEC within one month of passage of the law. The NEC is still not confirmed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance the Government are giving to the conduct of the national elections in Sudan that are scheduled for 2009; and if he will make a statement. (226087)

We have worked closely with the UN Mission in Sudan and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) over their technical assistance to the Sudanese government on, for example, the electoral law. We will continue to support the holding of free and fair elections in Sudan, including through contributing to a UNDP managed basket fund.