Sudan (MNN) ― Sudan's election commission is extending voting by two more days to compensate for technical problems. Voting wraps up on Thursday.
The extension is in an effort to address the legitimacy of the results before they become an issue. These historic elections are a test to the fragile unity of the country, which means conflict could erupt.
The Africa Inland Mission (AIM) Sudan team currently has 24 members. Dr. Phil Byler, the leader of the South Sudan Unit of the Central Region, says, "We had the same concern, enough so that we have pulled all of our AIM personnel out of the country for these days, until the results are announced and we can see how the country is reacting to the results of the election."
These are presidential and parliamentary elections. They signal an end to the transitional period which began when the Civil War ended in 2005.
If this election does fall apart in violence or is discredited by international observers, it could jeopardize the south's chance to vote for its freedom in January. That, in turn, would endanger negotiations over how to divide vast oil wealth in the region.
Byler says, "Pray that there can be peace, that there will be a new government elected that will do a good job of governing."
Ministry has been disrupted; however, Byler thinks they'll be on track again soon. "We're fully anticipating, hoping and expecting, to be back in Sudan again in a few weeks--perhaps even two weeks from now if all goes well --and continue our mission ministry there."
Pray for free and fair elections and for the international community who will be observing. Pray for the AIM missionaries who are using this time to rest and ready themselves for ministry in the post-election period.
