Sudan Domestic Election Monitoring and Observation Program has observed a number of irregularities during the polling, which is ending today.
There have been rampant cases of political party agents imposing themselves to help voters, declared SuDEMOP, one of the largest domestic observer groups in southern SudanLorna Merekaje, SuDEMOP secretary general, narrated to SCR News how voters were told who’s name to tick by people present in the polling stations
Ms. Merekaje added that these have been a cross-cutting issue in all the ten states of southern Sudan
SuDEMOP observers have reported cases of harassment and intimidation of domestic observers, voters and polling officials by local authorities and unauthorized security personnel in Western Bahr el Ghazal Central and Western Equatoria, Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Unity states.
Ms. Merekaje gave an example of an incident in Juba.
SuDEMOP also noted polling officials were not always well informed about the extension of the elections.
Ms. Merekaje believes it is too early to decide whether the two extra days gave all Southern Sudanese enough time to cast their ballot.
SuDEMOP will come with its final conclusion immediately after the release of the election results.