Peaceful elections but no NEC staff salaries in Unity State

The election results are expected to be announced tomorrow across Sudan, and with a turnout of 60% in my state, Unity State, there is a feeling of optimism on the streets for the first time since I can remember.

Counting of votes in Unity State began three days ago, with some some delays due to complaints from NEC election officials about unpaid wages. In my town of Bentiu, the NEC staff went on strike demanding their allowances be paid for the extra two days of voting that they administered. Unity State has 9 counties with 628 polling stations.  The counting is underway, but media restrictions mean I cannot report anything about the count today.  In most polling stations I went to I observed that the atmosphere is calm, but excited due to the competition for state governorship between the candidate Angelina Teny and the current incumbent, caretaker Governor Taban Deng. Everybody voted and the mood is good.  

Independent candidate Angelina Jany Teny running for Governor

Mr Michael Mayar Mading, an election official from the State High Elections Committee told me:  We started the counting at 8am these last two days and we are all working up to now, because the voting ended on Thursday really without any major complaints. Everybody now is awaiting the results. I congratulate the international NGOs, who helped us during the election process in term of media coverage and security. And I wish good luck to the people who hope to be elected"

Despite the claim by the NEC that they have started the counting the ballots papers in the state, the independent candidate Angelina Teny, said there were big problems with the counting as the NEC staff have still not been paid.  This morning we have a serious crisis. The NEC staff is refusing to count, because they said they have not been given their money. We hope that this situation is resolved because this situation is highly likely to create conflict" she told me.

But, against great expectation, the mood on the street here in Unity is calm and peaceful.  What ever the result, there is a strong sense of change in the air.