SIDELIGHTS ON THE SUDANESE ELECTIONS:

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01443R000200040012-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 7, 1998
• Sequence Number: 12
• Content Type: SUMMARY

Approved For Release 2000/ IIr 80R01443R000200040012-4
BACKGROUND
SIDELIGHTS ON THE SUDANESE ELECTIONS:
1. First popular elections in the Sudan, with
98 percent of the electorate illiterate and
majority living primitive tribal life,
presented international Election CommissiobF
with innumerable problems.
2. Inadequate communications, great distances,
often only trails; 800 miles from Khartoum
to Juba in the South. Tribes live in utter
isolation and are very apathetic and
suspicious. In Nuba Mountain area, over
180 different languages and dialects spoken.
3. Majority of voting by token secret ballot.
In less sophisticated regions voting by
acclamation; tribe lines up behind candidate'
of its choice, commonly its head man.
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4. Black tribes of South -- Dinka, Nuer,
Shilluk -- identified by tribal scars.
Tall, erect, spear-carrying warriors in
panther hides, feathers and other colorful
but scanty garb frequently appeared at
balloting booths bewildered and shuffling.
5. Candidates identified by pictures -- spear,
sword, axe, hut, rooster, tree. Voter
received token and instructed to place it
in can bearing picture of his choice.
6. Voter often emerged from balloting but
still clutching token and asking what he
should do with it, despite voting dress
rehearsals in many areas.
7. Several chiefs walked half the night with
their tribes to balloting place; then
decided they did not like the idea of
voting after all and led tribes home again.
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8. One election officer, with his committee
and 30 porters carrying polling equipment,
walked 100 miles through mud and water to
hold election. He found only one candi-
date at journey's end. Officer later
commented he felt "very tired."
9. One delegation, clad only in white ash
paste and anklets, arrived too late to vote.;
Undaunted group performed tribal dance to
prove their courage.
10. One group of Dinka arrived at voting center
without their spears and found another
group fully armed. First group took to the,
woods and voting delayed a day while
regulations on arms were clarified.
11. Despite complexities,-American observer in
Khartoum estimates that about 50 percent of
qualified electorate participated.
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12. International electoral commission
supervising elections, despite various
complaints and charges of fraud, apparently
satisfied that the election was reasonably
honest.
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