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Sudan: Election fraud caught on video?

Categories: Sub-Saharan Africa, Sudan, Citizen Media, Elections, Politics

A video showing election fraud [1] in Sudan is being circulated online. Sudan's National Elections Commission has dismissed it as fake. The video [2]shows election officials stuffing ballot boxes. Opposition groups claim that the video proves their claims of election rigging by the ruling National Congress Party (NCP).

Save Darfur blog reports [3]:

Both the BBC and the Washington Post (via Reuters) have reported on a video – now posted to the internet – that was sent to us from activists in Sudan. The footage appears to show individuals dressed as election officials stuffing ballot boxes, reportedly in Sudan’s Red Sea State. While the content cannot be verified, and there are other, well documented cases of electoral irregularities, this may be the first video evidence of the rigging.

It is important to note that the National Elections Commission (NEC) has dismissed this video as fake, and has decided not investigate the incident.

A discussion is going [4] on at Ethiopia Current Affairs Discussion Forum (ECADAF [5]) about the video:

How did the election commission declare the video fake [6] before investigating?:

How the NEC declared such a footage fake before even investigating it? Why have they blocked YouTube in Sudan if it is fake? This calls for more questions…

Tate says [7] the video the guide to how to rig an election:

The ediots Guide to how to rig an election! Sudanese style. These guys must have taken few tips from EPRDF cadres.

Aklilu is not suprised [8]because election rigging is common in Africa:

It is common happend in Africa! Not 2 b suprise the May election in Ethiopia will b exactly what happend in this video ,so not 2 b suprise ! It is not new things happening in Africa .Weyane harnet allready set up how to ambush the ellection.

It is time to review electoral systems in the world, argues Alaqib [9]:

Is it time to review the whole system of ELECTIONS and Democracy in the world?, see wherever there are elections there can be talk of rigging: Iran,Iraq, even USA…etc

The copy of the video posted here [2] has also generated a debate in the comment section.

NitroEthiopian asks, “What do you expect? That is Africa”:

looool what do you expect? That is Africa! The sad thing is Al bashir is going to claim victory. He will then kill people protesting and then label them as rebels. And then the U.N will reprimand Al Bashir. The U.S, like wise, will denounce Al Bashir, and then after a month or so, it will be forgotten. And the rest of the world will move on.
Unless dictators are confronted daily they will keep killing

According to MrPortsudan the video shows how desperate opposition politicians are:

ok Mr watch the other clip where the camera man directing those individual, will you comment on that, secondly ppl in those area have no regard to the rule of law, and i bet every one here if you ask those ppl about it they will admit and tell you what are you going to do about it.and last thing how can you gather evidence and be part of the crime?? it show how desperate the opposition,i bet this clip in remote eastern sudan will circulate around the internet,now opp can party lol

Tabiatomdurman believes the video to be authentic:

This absolutely true video. It was taken by cell phone. There is no other explanation. BBC, Washington Post and CNN know what they are doing. You have to have 10 people to make a video like this with no mistakes or looking at the camera. BASHIR IS DONE. This is a huge scandle 1 day ago

mohdd2 questions its authenticity. He poses this question, “how can they not notice somebody filming them head-on in daylight.”:

how can they not notice somebody filming them head-on in daylight. Only an idiot like the BBC chaps will believe this or are they hopeful that they will just give it credibility despite them knowing better.

MrNobody808 answers:

It is easy to do with a mobile phone. Even easier with a hidden camera. :)

MrNobody808 again:

Or it was an opposition supporter filming the crime. Or it was someone who was so disgusted by the fraud, that he decided to gather evidence. There are many reasons. Do not be so quick to dismiss this as a set up.

mohdd2 with a light touch:

These members of our party are idiots> Itold them to rig the vote but forgot to warn them not to film it for youtube!
what a stupid scam and fucking BBC believed it and put it as news in their front page

Sudan Elections 2010 is the country’s first multi-party election since 1986.