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.
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.