Sudanese authorities have stepped up security to ensure a secure voting process today in South Kordofan State.

Over 2,400 police personnel were reportedly deployed in all polling stations and entries in all localities in the war-torn state.

A security source confirmed to the Sudanese Media Center (SMC) Saturday that security forces were on standby for intervention in case of any emergency during the voting phase.

The source urged citizens not to listen to rumours being circulated by the rebels that aim at disrupting the elections.

He explained that the police leadership has already planned to secure all the polling centres and protect the citizens from any attempts to break the law.

The police will hit with an iron fist whoever tries to compromise the citizen’s security and the election, the source said.

For his part, an official from the election committee in South Kordofan announced that the voting will kick off in all centers in the state.

The Chairman of the Committee Abdullah Idris added all requirements for the voting process have reached their places.

He pointed out that the Committee prepared a team of staff after training them on how to manage the process is a transparent and satisfactory manner.

Meanwhile, the Blue Nile government also announced its preparedness to secure the elections in all polling stations across the state.

The organized forces were also seen organizing a parade in neighbourhoods to show the readiness of troops to secure the election.

SRF threats

This security measures came after the Chief-of-Staff of the Sudanese armed opposition SRF Abdel-Aziz Al Hilu announced a plan to sabotage the Sudanese elections scheduled to take place in April.

Al Hilu, who is also deputy chairman of the SPLM-North rebel group, said in a press statement that the elections will not take place in South Kordofan. He ordered his forces to implement the order to stop the elections in the war torn region.

Abu Kershola and Kadugli towns in South Kordofan State were reportedly deserted by civilians due fear of insecurity over the last few days.

Meanwhile, Saleh Juma, a candidate of the SPLM-Peace Faction in EL Fula town in West Kordofan confirmed that the security arrangements were in place for the election to kick off today.

Saleh pointed out that some centers have been transferred in the areas that witnessed fighting between the Zeyoud and Awlad Omran clans of the Misseriya tribe recently.

However, the member of the SPLM-PF said that some polling centers are very far away from the town.

'Leave Campaign' gathers steam

Meanwhile, a member of the opposition National Umma Party in West Kordofan Salah Mohammadi Adam downplayed the security measures announced by the authorities.

He told Radio Tamazuj that the Sudan Appeal signatories through the “Leave Campaign” managed to create awareness among the citizens to boycott the elections.

The opposition member said the election is likely be isolated by the electorates.

He noted that they will not cause any destruction as expected by the authorities because the election is failing and that it concerns the ruling party alone, according to Mohammadi.

Several observers in the capital Khartoum confirmed that the people do not care about the elections.

They told Radio Tamazuj that the election is one sided and that the citizens are concerned about the deteriorating living conditions, saying the election will not bring any change.

Madeeha Abdullah, the Chief Editor of the Sudanese Communist Party’s Al Maidan newspaper, confirmed that the “Leave Campaign” was able to create awareness among the citizens not to participate in the elections.

“The people of Sudan have been ready to boycott the elections because they were being excluded from politics,” she said.

For their part, members of the Sudan Appeal Declaration in Al Duwaim town in White Nile State reportedly distributed anti-election publications as part of the “Leave Campaign."

A source indicated that they distributed anti-election materials in public places, tea shops, bus stations, and at Bakht al-Ruda University.

Meanwhile, the Sudanese Congress Party in Al Dowaim town issued an anti-election statement.

The opposition party accused the government of failing to improve the basic services, besides the corruption in lands authority.