International observers have said the May 23 election falls short of international standards for a democratic vote, but after winning 68 percent of the vote, one analyst says President Omar Hassan al-Bashir has improved his standing as Sudan’s head of state.
Ayele Bekerie, a political science professor at Cornell University, says the result of the voting means al-Bashir will remain in power.
Ayele, who teaches and performs research in African studies, said Sudan’s first multi-party vote in 24 years would appear give greater credibility to al-Bashir’s rule, in spite of the fact that as a result of genocide charges in the Darfur conflict, he has been charged with crimes against humanity and has been ordered to appear before an international court.
International observers including U.S.-based Carter Center say the election will fall short of international standards and some of the president’s opponents have already rejected the result.
Ayale said al-Bashir’s announcement that he will implement the 2005 agreement with Southern Sudan’s People’s Liberation Movement makes his re-election even more acceptable to some in the international community who support a referendum in the south which may result in secession.Southern independence could also complicate the troubled Nile River Basin agreement between Sudan.
