US embassy cable - 92KHARTOUM5791

C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 05791 
 
 
E.O.:12356:DECL:OADR 
TAGS:  PGOV, PHUM, PINS, SU 
SUBJECT:  DIRECT ELECTION OF SUDANESE PRESIDENT 
 
REF: A.)  STATE 2331119; B.) 89 KHARTOUM 11662 
 
1.  (C)  SUMMARY:  ALTHOUGH THE GOS REGULARLY 
REPEATS ITS PLEDGE TO CONDUCT DIRECT ELECTIONS FOR 
PRESIDENT, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES WILL NEED TO BE 
APPROVED BY THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY (CURRENTLY AN 
APPOINTED BODY).  THIS INCREASES THE LIKELIHOOD THAT 
ONLY THOSE PERSONS ENJOYING THE GOS SEAL OF APPROVAL 
WILL BE ABLE TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  (C)  REF A REPORTS THAT FINANCE MINISTER HAMDI 
TOLD DAS HOUDEK THERE WOULD SHORTLY BE "MOVES TOWARD 
A DIRECT ELECTION" OF A SUDANESE PRESIDENT.  DIRECT 
ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN A PUBLIC, AND 
REPEATED, GOS PROMISE SINCE THE GOS BEGAN TOUTING 
SUDAN'S NEW POLITICAL SYSTEM IN 1989 (REF B).  (THE 
WORDS "DIRECT ELECTIONS" ARE ENCASED IN THE BIGGEST 
BLOCK IN THE COLORED LEAFLET, ENTITLED "SUDAN'S 
POLITICAL SYSTEM," WHICH CONTAINS A DIAGRAM OF THIS 
SYSTEM.  COPY OF LEAFLET WAS POUCHED TO AF/E) 
 
3.  (U)  IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, PRESIDENT BASHIR 
TOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE THAT "THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A 
NEW POLITICAL SYSTEM THROUGH ELECTIONS AND THE 
ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE 
REPUBLIC WILL TAKE PLACE WITHIN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, 
BEFORE THE CELEBRATION OF THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF 
THE SUDANESE NATIONAL SALVATION REVOLUTION OF 30 
JULY."  OBVIOUSLY THIS TIMING, AS WITH MUCH ELSE 
HAVING TO DO WITH THE POLITICAL SYSTEM, APPEARS TO 
HAVE SLIPPED. 
 
4.  (U)  WE ALSO NOTE THAT (GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED) 
SUDAN NEWS AGENCY'S "WEEKLY REVIEW" PUBLICATION 
(DATED JUNE 7, 1991) CONTAINED AN ARTICLE ON THE 
POLITICAL SYSTEM'S STATUTES AND GENERAL PLAN.  THE 
ARTICLE STATES:  "THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC 
SHOULD BE SUDANESE, 35 YEARS OF AGE OR MORE AND 
SHOULD SATISFY THE GENERAL REQUIREMENTS NEEDED FOR 
THE JOB.  ANY ELIGIBLE CANDIDATE SHOULD BE 
RECOMMENDED BY AT LEAST 60 PER CENT OF THE MEMBERS 
OF THE BASIC CONGRESS HE BELONGS TO.  CANDIDATES FOR 
THE POST SHOULD HAVE THE APPROVAL OF AT LEAST 60 PER 
CENT OF THE MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL CONGRESS. 
CANDIDACY SHOULD BE APPROVED BY THE NATIONAL 
CONGRESS." 
 
5.  (C)  APPROVAL OF PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES BY THE 
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, WHICH IS CURRENTLY AN APPOINTED 
ONE, WOULD THUS LIKLELY ASSURE THAT ONLY 
GOS-APPROVED PERSONS COULD RUN.  GOVERNMENT CONTROL 
OF PARTICIPANTS HAS BEEN A CONSISTENT FEATURE IN 
NEARLY EVERY MAJOR PUBLIC FORA ORGANIZED BY THIS 
REGIME (E.G. THE NATIONAL DIALOGUE CONFERENCE, THE 
POLITICAL SYSTEM CONFERENCE, THE TRANSITIONAL 
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, AMONG OTHERS).  EVEN WHEN THERE 
WAS LESS INTERFERENCE WITH SELECTION OF 
PARTICIPANTS, SUCH AS IN THE NATIONAL FOUNDING 
CONFERENCE ON THE POLITICAL SYSTEM, THE GOVERNMENT 
EXERCISED FIRM CONTROL OVER THE OUTCOME OF THE 
SESSION.  THUS FAR, DESPITE FINANCE MINISTER HAMDI'S 
OPTIMISM, THERE IS NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THE 
RCC/NIF HAS ANY INTENTION OF OFFERING GENUINE 
POLITICAL CHOICE TO ITS CITIZENS. 
 
 
CHEEK