A new dawn for women in Sudanese politics?

Hundreds of women gathered at Toto Chan in Juba to celebrate International Women’s Day and encourage women in South Sudan to turn up in force at the coming historic elections.   The ululating chant for the day sang out “active participation of women in the April elections.”

Mr Peter Sukole Buni, the GOSS undersecretary for Gender, Religious and Social Welfare, who made a speech at the celebration said “Women in South Sudan have been hampered by distracting cultural traditions that meant they shyed from leadership. This day is aimed at asserting the real value of women’s participation in the forthcoming elections"

Mrs Rona James Elia

As the most illiterate gender in the country, women are in need of greater awareness to make sure that they participate fully in the elections. Rona James Elia, Executive Director of local NGO 'Voice for Change' and a member of the Womens Union said, “women should support one another regardless of their affiliations, religious and tribal backgrounds.I call upon women in South Sudan to stand behind their fellow women in the coming elections to increase the number of women in politics.”.

Rona is using her organisation to mobillise women from both inside and outside Sudan on behalf of peace and unity, lobbying for funds that carry out civic education for women at the grass roots. Her organistation has been responsible for the election training of over 300 women across the southern states. “They will continue the dissemination of voter education among their fellow women in their respective states,” added Rona.

Mrs Elia's organisation is responsible for organising women activists like Miria Matembe, a former Ugandan Minister and an African woman activist to illustrate and teach southern Sudanese women to be leaders. Fidensia Charles Ladu, the Acting Director for the GOSS State Minister of Gender said women all over the world are becoming more actively involved in politics. She urged women in South Sudan to try and get rid of the cultural traditions that restrict women from participating in leadership and turn up in bigger numbers for the forth coming elections.

Mary Yapete Beatrice gender focal point in the South Sudan Ministry of Forestry and Animal Resources is mandated to enlighten her fellow women at the ministry on the importance of their partaking in the April national elections.   And from the few people I spoke to over the last days, it is clear that this message is being listened to.  Mary Bisensio Wani, a tea seller watching the celebrations from the road side said ” I must vote in the forthcoming elections because I have women candidates I believe will bring change to South Sudan."

Women buying and selling at the International Women's Day celebrations

Sarah Said Ali, a member of Women Associated with Armed Forces WAAF said “our mandate as women is to participate in elections and contribute to a democratic transformation of our country.  We supported our soldiers in liberating south Sudan and now it’s our turn to have a say in the political system of our country.”

95 women, the biggest number of women candidates in Sudanese history will be contesting for the State Legislative Assembly in Khartoum and 783 women for the South Sudan Legislative Assembly and 4 contesting for state governorships.   The contrasting figures for women involvement in politics say alot about the differences between North and South Sudan.