The top UN official in the Sudan told the Security Council on Monday that the international community must take a more active role in promoting democracy ahead of next year’s referendum.
Haile Menkerios told the 15-member UN body that Sudan needs to be encouraged and assisted to expand the democratic grounds opened by the recent elections.Mr. Menkerious added that the council should establish a broad-based system of national governance that would lead to a more equitable society and durable peace.
The Eritrean diplomat said both the NCP and SPLM informed UNMIS that they desired a bigger UN engagement in the referendum.
Mr. Menkerios added that while the UN was ready to extend technical and logistical support to the local referendum bodies and the SPLM and the NCP needed to speed up the necessary preparations without further delay.