Civil War Clouds Looming In Sudan

South Sudan's Ruling Party Pulls Out of Presidential Race -- Voice of America

South Sudan's ruling Sudan People's Liberation Movement has pulled out of the race for the Sudanese presidency, as well as from elections in Sudan's war-torn region of Darfur. The announcement came after days of indecision from within SPLM's leadership about how best to respond to allegations of vote rigging on the part of its tenuous peace partners in the north.

Late Wednesday evening, vice-chair of the SPLM Riek Machar announced that the former southern rebels were dropping out of the race against Sudanese president Omar Hassan al-Bashir, whom they accuse of engineering election fraud. The party will also not participate in Darfur elections, saying the crisis there has yet to be resolved.

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More News On Sudan

US envoy meets opposition in bid to rescue Sudan polls -- AFP
US envoy holds Sudan crisis talks over election move -- BBC
Sudan opposition parties join election boycott -- Reuters
President Bashir's chief rival boycotts Sudan election -- Christian Science Monitor
Challenger in Sudan Elections Quits -- New York Times
Sudan presidential candidate urges boycott -- CNN

Darfur rebels threaten return to arms -- AFP
Sudan, rebels 'unlikely' to clinch accord: UN -- Canada.com
Darfur peace deal "unlikely" to be signed before election - mediator -- Sudan Tribune

My Comment: These are the first steps to the fragmentation of the Sudan as one country. Unfortunately, it appears that bloodshed is the route that is becoming the one most favored by both sides.