2010 Sudanese general election in Jonglei

Elections were held in Jonglei State on 10–15 April 2010 as part of the 2010 Sudanese general election, with voting for President of Sudan, National Assembly of Sudan, President of Southern Sudan, Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly, Governor of Jonglei State and the Jonglei State Legislative Assembly.[1][2] The elections were the first in Sudan for over two decades, held in the aftermath of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the Government of Sudan of Omar al-Bashir.[3] The election was carried out in precarious security conditions, with ethnic conflicts prevalent in the state.[2] The elections were won by the SPLM, with the exception of a handful of seats.[4] Disputes over the election results led to the outbreak of two armed insurgencies.[5]

Jonglei State in 2010

Electoral system

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A new electoral law, the National Elections Act of 2008, was adopted in July 2008.[6][7] For the elections for the presidencies of Sudan and South Sudan, elections would be held under an absolute majority system. If no candidate would obtained 50% of the votes cast plus one vote, a second round of the two most-voted candidates would be held.[8] State governors, on the other hand, would be elected under a simple majority system whereby the most-voted candidate would be elected governor.[8]

For the parliamentary elections (whether to the National Assembly, the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly or the State Legislative Assemblies) the electoral legislation adopted in July 2008 stipulated a mixed electoral system - 60% of parliamentarians would be elected from single-member First Past the Post geographic constituencies.[6][8] 15% of the parliamentarians would be elected through Proportional Representation Party-Lists. 25% of the parliamentarians would be elected through Proportional Representation lists for women candidates.[6]

The delimitation of constituency boundaries was based on the national population census published in May 2009, a census whose accuracy was disputed.[9] Per the 2008 electoral legislation, constituencies should have been delimitated within a 30-day period.[9] The National Electoral Commission tasked the state-level High Electoral Commissions to draft the constituency boundary delimitations.[9] According to the Carter Center report, constituencies were “"vague, unmapped, and difficult for observers and election officials to comprehend".[9] The electoral legislation established that the population in each geography constituencies for the National Assembly must not deviate by more than 15% from the average population size of the 270 geographic constituencies for the National Assembly (145,017 inhabitants).[9][7] In Jonglei, there were significant deviations from the legislation.[9] The Bor South National Assembly geographic constituency in the Jonglei state capital had the largest deviation of all 270 National Assembly geographic constituencies, hosting a population 52% larger than the national average.[7]

Estimated population size of National Assembly constituencies in Jonglei and variance from national average
No. Counties Population
(2008 census)
Variance
1 Pigi 99,068 -31.69%
2 Old Fangak 110,130 -24.06%
3 Ayod 139,282 -3.95%
4 Nyirol 108,674 -25.06%
5 Uror 178,519 +23.10%
6 Twic East, Duk 150,937 +4.08%
7 Bor South 221,106 +52.47%
8 Akobo 136,210 -6.07%
9 Pibor, Pochalla 214,676 +48.04%

[7][10]

Organization and context

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At the time of the vote, Jonglei was the largest state in Sudan by area.[11] The holding of the election presented logistic challenges, as much of the state was not reachable by road.[1] There were 600 polling stations and 670 committees across the state.[2] Mecak Ajang Alaak was the Chairman of the Jonglei State Election High Commission.[12]

A United Nations Mission in Sudan helicopter assisted the authorities to transport voting materials back to the state capital Bor.[1] Delays in receiving ballot boxes from polling stations resulted in delays of announcement of preliminary results.[1] Observers from the Carter Center observed party agents assisting Election Commission workers in counting of votes, but refrained from stating that this would have been a systematic practice.[2]

595,901 persons were registered as voters.[2] This was estimated to correspond to 88% of the population aged 18 years and above.[2] Each voter would be given 12 different ballots (President of Sudan, National Assembly of Sudan geographic constituency, National Assembly of Sudan Party-List, National Assembly of Sudan Women's List, President of Southern Sudan, Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly geographic constituency, Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly Party-List, Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly Women's List, Governor of Jonglei, Jonglei State Legislative Assembly geographic constituency, Jonglei State Legislative Assembly Party-List and Jonglei State Legislative Assembly Women's List).[8]

From 2009 onwards inter-tribal violence in Jonglei escalated.[13] In the run-up to the elections, politicians sought to capitalize on tribal rivalries to mobilize voters.[13] Pre-electoral violence caused largescale population displacements in Jonglei.[11]

SPLM nominations

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Ahead of the election, it was widely presumed that SPLM would win and thus competition over SPLM tickets was fierce.[14] The State SPLM Electoral College met on 10 January 2010 to decide the party nominations for the April election.[14] The meeting evaluated 228 potential candidates.[14] The State SPLM Electoral College ranked five candidates for governor, leaving to the SPLM Political Bureau to finalize the decision.[14] The State SPLM Electoral College named 91 candidates for the other posts up for election.[14]

William Borien Gola was nominated by the State SPLM Electoral College as the candidate for the Pibor West (Gumuruk, Lekwongole) geographic constituency for the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly, but this decision was over-ridden by the SPLM Political Bureau which named Francis Lokurunga as the SPLM candidate for the seat.[4][15]

Results

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President of Sudan

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Like in all southern states (except Upper Nile) the SPLM candidate Yasir Arman was the most voted presidential candidate.[2] Yasir Arman finishing in second place nation-wide.[2] The winning candidate and incumbent President Omar al-Bashir finished in third place in Jonglei.[2] Independent candidate Mahmood Ahmed Jeha, who obtained 0.71% of the vote nation-wide, finished in second place in Jonglei.[2] He obtained 39.50% of his nation-wide vote in Jonglei state alone.[2]

CandidatePartyVotes%
Yasir ArmanSudan People's Liberation Movement128,26765.62
Mahmood Ahmed JehaIndependent28,32914.49
Omar al-BashirNational Congress Party24,16712.36
Abdallah Deng NhialPopular Congress Party8,7084.46
Mubarak al-FadilUmma Reform and Renewal Party3,2301.65
Munir Sheikh El-din JallabNew National Democratic Party5160.26
Sadiq al-MahdiUmma Party5150.26
Fatima Abdel MahmoudSudanese Socialist Democratic Union4620.24
Hatim Al-SirDemocratic Unionist Party3580.18
Muhammad Ibrahim NugudSudanese Communist Party3280.17
Abdel-Aziz KhalidSudanese National Alliance2960.15
Kamil IdrisIndependent2870.15
Total195,463100.00
Registered voters/turnout595,901
Source: [2]

National Assembly

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Jonglei elected nine deputies from First Past the Post single member constituencies, two deputies from Proportional Representation Party-List vote and four deputies from Women's list vote (also Proportional Representation).[4] SPLM won all seats, except the 8th parliamentary constituency (Akobo County) were the NCP candidate Riek Gai Kok defeated the SPLM candidate.[4] In the case of the 6th constituency (Twic East County, Duk County) the SPLM candidate Atem Garang Deng was elected by acclamation.[16][14][17]

The deputies elected on the Party-List were Lual Achuek Lual (Twic East County) and David Dhil Chol (Ayod County).[4][14] The deputies elected on the Women's List were Emelda Modi Tombe (Akobo County), Munira John Abdelwahab (Pochalla County), Elizabeth John Kuol Akech (Pigi County) and Anna Abyei Wuor (Duk County).[4][14]

Summary of 2010 National Assembly election in Jonglei
Party No. of
candidates
FPTP
Votes FPTP % of FPTP
votes state-wide
FPTP seats won Party-List vote % of Party-List vote Party-List seats won Women's List vote % of Women's List vote Women's List seats won Total number of seats won
Sudan People's Liberation Movement 9 148,876 75.37% 8 108,133 74.20% 2 110,877 71.03% 4 14
National Congress Party 8 30,976 15.68% 1 1
Sudan African National Union 3 8,086 4.09%
United Democratic Front 3 5,777 2.92%
Union of Sudan African Parties 1 3,006 1.52%
SPLM-Democratic Change 1 807 0.41%
Independents 3 10,014 5.07%
Source:[4] In the case of the Proportional Representation lists, only lists winning seats have their voting tally specified.
 
National Assembly constituencies in Jonglei state for the 2010 Sudanese general election. Constituencies in red won by SPLM, in green NCP.
Summary of the 2010 National Assembly election in the geographic constituencies of Jonglei
No. Counties Winning
candidate
SPLM NCP SANU UDF USAP SPLM-DC Ind. Total valid
votes per
constituency
1 Pigi Kuol Lual Awuol (SPLM) 14,423 7,727 22,150
2 Old Fangak John Badeng Chan (SPLM) 5,696 4,906 2,513 807 13,115
3 Ayod Jacob Duany Waw (SPLM) 2,441 412 2,227 817 5,080
4 Nyirol Michael Ruot Koryom (SPLM) 5,535 4,944 1,037 3,006 14,522
5 Uror Michael Chot Lul (SPLM) 15,216 2,858 4,812 9,197 22,886
6 Twic East, Duk Atem Garang Deng (SPLM) Acclamation N/A
7 Bor South Maker Thiong Maal (SPLM) 60,948 3,038 63,986
8 Akobo Riek Gai Kok (NCP) 4,716 5,256 1,001 10,973
9 Pibor, Pochalla Lawuryen Ibon Korlem (SPLM) 39,901 1,835 2,273 44,009
Total: 148,876 30,976 8,086 5,777 3,006 807 10,014 196,721
Source:[4][14] In the 5th constituency, there were two different independent candidates, whose votes are combined in the table above.

President of Southern Sudan

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CandidatePartyVotes%
Salva Kiir MayarditSudan People's Liberation Movement234,89793.82
Lam Akol AjawinSPLM-Democratic Change15,4866.18
Total250,383100.00
Registered voters/turnout595,901
Source: [2]

Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly

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Jonglei elected seventeen deputies from First Past the Post single member constituencies, four deputies from Proportional Representation Party-List vote and seven deputies from Women's list vote (also Proportional Representation).[4] SPLM won all the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly seats, except the 6th legislative constituency were independent candidate Timothy Taban Juch defeated the SPLM candidate and incumbent Southern Sudan Minister for Energy and Mining John Luk Jok.[12][4]

Summary of 2010 Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly election in Jonglei
Party No. of
candidates
FPTP
Votes FPTP % of FPTP
votes state-wide
FPTP seats won Party-List vote % of Party-List vote Party-List seats won Women's List vote % of Women's List vote Women's List seats won Total number of seats won
Sudan People's Liberation Movement 16 172,111 68.44% 15 107,120 72.44% 7 104,610 70.88% 4 26
National Congress Party 10 8,875 3.53%
United Salvation Front 1 7,941 3.16%
Union of Sudan African Parties 1 3,750 1.49%
Democratic Front of South Sudan 1 2,456 0.98%
United Democratic Front 1 1,886 0.75%
Sudan African National Union 1 1,068 0.42%
Original United Democratic Salvation Front 1 128 0.05%
Independents 13 53,236 21.17%
Source:[4] Data from 16 out of 17 constituencies, missing constituency no. 12 (Duk). In the case of the Proportional Representation lists, only lists winning seats have their voting tally specified.
Summary of the 2010 Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly election in the geographic constituencies of Jonglei
Constituency Name Winning Candidate SPLM NCP USF USAP DFSS UDF SANU OUDSF Ind. Total:
1 Old Fangak James Kok Ruey (SPLM) 4,401 3,257 1,068 2,705 11,431
2 Pigi Khorfulus Gier Choung Aloung (SPLM) 13,134 841 7,004 20,979
3 Ayod North Timothy Tot Chol (SPLM) 1,061 481 307 1,849
4 Ayod South Paul Gatnor Ruot (SPLM) 1,935 1,096 1,273 4,304
5 Akobo North John Jok Chol (SPLM) 3,269 1,049 2,465 790 526 8,099
6 Akobo South Timothy Taban Juch (Ind.) 2,243 128 2,584 4,955
7 Pochalla David Okwer Akweny (SPLM) 15,529 166 15,695
8 Nyirol Kutin Bayak Gil (SPLM) 8,488 6,021 14,509
9 Uror North Simon Hoth Dual (SPLM) 5,991 5,246 11,237
10 Uror South Barnaba Marial Benjamin (SPLM) 14,047 5,115 19,162
11 Twic East Deng Dau Deng (SPLM) 29,395 469 19,661 49,525
13 Bor Athoc Dengtiel Ayuen Kur (SPLM) 17,584 185 3,750 21,519
14 Bor Central Michael Makuei Lueth (SPLM) 15,200 650 2,794 18,644
15 Bor Gok Benjamin Malek Alier (SPLM) 20,278 815 21,093
16 Pibor West Francis Lokurunga Angou (SPLM) 11,681 7,941 19,622
17 Pibor East David Aruk Irer (SPLM) 7,875 962 8,837
Total: 172,111 8,875 7,941 3,750 2,465 1,886 1,068 128 53,236 251,460
Source:[4] Data from 16 out of 17 constituencies, missing constituency no. 12 (Duk).

Governor of Jonglei

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In the gubernatorial election the incumbent caretaker governor Kuol Manyang Juuk of SPLM faced independent candidate George Athor Deng and Joseph Duer Jakor of the National Congress Party.[12] Both Kuol Manyang and George Athor were from the Dinka tribe.[18] At the 10 January 2010 State SPLM Electoral College, five leaders had expressed their interested in the gubernatorial nomination of the party, and were ranked by the State SPLM Electoral College in the following order: Kuol Manyang, George Athor, Rambang Luoth, Ismail Konyi and Duoth Nhial Pec.[14]

CandidatePartyVotes%
Kuol Manyang JuukSudan People's Liberation Movement165,30766.22
George Athor DengIndependent67,63927.09
Joseph Duer JakorNational Congress Party16,7046.69
Total249,650100.00
Registered voters/turnout595,901
Source: [2]

Whilst George Athor refused to acknowledge Kuol Manyang's victory, the NCP candidate Joseph Duer called Kuol Manyang to congratulate him on winning the poll.[19]

Jonglei State Legislative Assembly

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29 state legislators were elected from First Past the Post single member constituencies, 7 state legislators from Proportional Representation Party-List vote and 14 state legislators from Women's list vote (also Proportional Representation).[4] The United Democratic Front candidate William Mayian Roak won the 5th legislative constituency (Ayod North) and independent candidate Peter Mabior Bol won the 15th legislative constituency (Uror North-East) seat.[4] All other single-member legislative seats were won by SPLM candidates.[4] Joyce James Konyi (UDF) and Martha Chol Luak (NCP) were the only non-SPM candidates elected from the Women's List vote.[4] Duoth Koang Rueh (UDF) was the sole non-SPLM candidate election on the Party-List vote.[4]

Athoc North rerun

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In the 27th state legislature constituency (Athoc North in Bor County) independent candidate Kuol Bol Ayom had requested a re-run, as ballots had been missprinted.[1] Kuol Bol's supported claimed that the National Election Commission had committed fraud by not allocating the correct election symbol to him on the ballot paper.[1] On 15 April 2010 the National Election Commission ordered a re-run of the vote in the 27th state legislature constituency.[1] However, on 18 April 2010 Kuol Bol sent a letter asking the National Election Commission to annul the decision for a re-run, arguing that he had withdrawn his complaint.[1] Nevertheless, a re-run of the elections for the 27th state legislature seat was held in June 2010.[20] Kuol Bol won the seat, obtaining 9,448 votes against 3,387 votes for the SPLM candidate Daniel Deng Kut. The two other candidates in the 27th constituency race, Buol Lual (independent) and Mayen Kur (NCP), had withdrawn from the race but still appeared on the ballot papers and each got less than 50 votes combined.[20]

Aftermath

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David Yau Yau

Violence in Jonglei continued to prevail after the holding of the elections.[21] Following the announcement of the results, the defeated gubernatorial candidate George Athor charged the SPLM with rigging the vote, went into hiding and launched an armed insurgency.[18][19] Another armed insurgency emerged led by David Yau Yau, who had lost the vote for the South Pibor seat in the Jonglei State Legislative Assembly.[4][22][5][23]

On 5 August 2010 the Jonglei State Legislative Assembly voted 30 to 2 to dismiss the Pigi South legislator-elect John Agany, who had never appeared in the assembly after the election. John Agany was rumoured to have joined George Athor's insurgency.[24]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Sudan Tribune. Official: Jonglei preliminary results to be delayed
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n National Election Commission (Sudan). National Electoral Commission - Preliminary Report on General Elections 2010
  3. ^ Sudan Tribune. UDF summits contenders for April elections
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r National Election Commission (Sudan). "ولاية جونقلي". Archived from the original on 2010-07-07. Retrieved 2011-09-18.
  5. ^ a b Anders Themnér (15 April 2017). Warlord Democrats in Africa: Ex-Military Leaders and Electoral Politics. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 206. ISBN 978-1-78360-250-6.
  6. ^ a b c Sudan completes delineation of 17 geographical constituencies
  7. ^ a b c d Gustafson Marc and Rift Valley Institute. Electoral Designs : Proportionality Representation and Constituency Boundaries in Sudan's 2010 Elections. Rift Valley Institute 2010.
  8. ^ a b c d European Union Election Observation Mission of The Republic of The Sudan - Final Report on the Executive and Legislative Elections, 2010
  9. ^ a b c d e f Andreu Sola-Martin.Triggers of Election Violence in Sub-Saharan Africa. Cornell Institute for African Development, 2018
  10. ^ Sudan Tribune. South Sudan’s Jonglei population breakdown
  11. ^ a b Howard Adelman; Elazar Barkan (2011). No Return, No Refuge: Rites and Rights in Minority Repatriation. Columbia University Press. p. 135. ISBN 978-0-231-15336-2.
  12. ^ a b c Sudan Tribune. Jonglei election results: Kuol Manyang wins governorship
  13. ^ a b Small Arms Survey. My neighbour, my enemy - Inter-tribal violence in Jonglei. Human Security Baseline Assessment, Number 21 October 2012
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Sudan Tribune. SPLM names Jonglei nominees for April elections
  15. ^ Sudan Tribune. SPLM candidates’ nomination contested
  16. ^ Radio Tamazuj. أتيم قرنق يسحب استقالته ويرفض زيادة رواتب البرلمانيين
  17. ^ Sudan Tribune. 27 MPs declared winners by default in Sudan elections
  18. ^ a b Sudan Tribune. Defeated candidate launches destructive attack on South Sudan army in Jonglei
  19. ^ a b Sudan Tribune. Jonglei governor-elect calls for calm as opponent hides
  20. ^ a b Sudan Tribune. South Sudan ruling party losses Jonglei’s election rerun
  21. ^ Matthew Arnold; Matthew LeRiche (2013). South Sudan: From Revolution to Independence. Oxford University Press. p. 185. ISBN 978-0-19-933340-0.
  22. ^ Kate Almquist Knopf. Fragility and State-Society Relations in South Sudan. Government Printing Office. p. 7. ISBN 978-0-16-094478-9.
  23. ^ Sudan Tribune. Sudan: Fresh clashes occur in Jonglei's Pibor County between SPLA and youth
  24. ^ Sudan Tribune. Jonglei State Assembly dismisses absenting member