Ibrahim Ghandour Archives - Jean-Jacques Cornish

Sudanese presidential advisor rejects claims of a low election turnout

Jean-Jacques Cornish — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 22:00:00 +0000

Presidential advisor Ibrahim Ghandour says Sudanese electoral authorities are happy with the turnout from this week’s election.
Voting, which was extended for a fourth day, ends this evening.

Ibrahim Ghandour rejects reports that the percentage poll from this week’s presidential, parliamentary and state election could be as low as 20 percent.
Opposition parties have boycotted the poll so its success will be measured by the turnout.
He says it’s too early to forecast a figure and suggests those who are trying to do so have an agenda.
(take in low clip here)
He denies reports that authorities have jailed dissidents before the poll.
A group of people trying to prevent voters going to a polling station were held, questioned and released, he says.
As of this morning there are no people being held by security authorities for political reasons.

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Voting quiet in Sudan election

Jean-Jacques Cornish — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 22:00:00 +0000

A second day of voting starts shortly in Sudan presidential, parliamentary and state elections. Yesterday (Monday) passed peacefully with President Omar Al Bashir voting at a Christian school in the capital Khartoum accompanied by his two wives and a number of advisors, cabinet ministers and generals. The turnout so far is reportedly low across Sudan’s 18 provinces.
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With some political parties turning their back on the election, parliamentary candidate for the ruling National Congress Party Nafi Ali Nafi says the success of the election will best be guaged by the turnout.
Presidential advisor Ibrahim Ghandour voices government anger at the European Union assertion that an environment conducive to participatory and credible elections doesn’t exist in Sudan.
With Sudan eager to follow Iran and Cuba in from the cold, Ghandour says it’s very important what the world makes of these elections which go into a third and final day of internal voting tomorrow before moving to seven foreign centers for a further three days of polling.
He insists though that the most important view is that of the Sudanese people themselves.
Voting has been cancelled in two regions of Darfur and seven in South Kordofan because rebel activity makes it too dangerous.
Ghandour says the government will move from this election into the national dialogue it launched at the beginning of last year following deadly unrest in September 2013.

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Presidential advisor explains why they didn’t go to talks

Jean-Jacques Cornish — Sun, 12 Apr 2015 22:00:00 +0000

Sudanese presidential advisor Ibrahim Ghandour explains why the government turned down former South African President Thabo Mbeki’s invitation for talks with opposition groups before the elections now underway.
He says its vitally important what the world thinks of this exercise, but even more important is the impression the poll makes on the
Sudanese people.

Ibrahim Ghandour is one of the most powerful men in Sudan.
He voted at the polling station today where President Omar Al Bashir, his ministers, generals and two wives cast their ballots.
Ghandour says they couldn’t attend the talks called by Thabo Mbeki two weeks before the election because the opposition wanted to have the poll cancelled.
But his government will press ahead with the national dialogue
He says he’s written two letters to Mbeki explaining this.

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