ELECTION IN SUDAN

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27211, 1 December 1953, Page 11

ELECTION IN SUDAN

Pro-Egyptians Lead In Poll (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11.50 p.m.) KHARTOUM. Nov. 30. The pro-Egyptian National Unionist Party won an important victory in Sudan’s first elections, but not an overall majority. Latest results give the National Unionists 41 seats in the House of Representatives. which has 97 seats, with two results still to be known.

The Umma Party, which stands for independence from both Britain and Egypt, gained 19 seats, the Southern Party 9, the Socialist Republicans 4, and the. Independents 13. The Independents’ tally dropped from 14 to 13 when one elected candidate declared his support for the National Unionists.

Khartoum observers consider the Unionist victory more a defeat to the Umma Party than a victory for unity with Egypt. Polling will continue till December 5 for the Senate of 50 seats, of which 30 will be elected by local councils and other corporate organisations. The remaining 20 members will be nominated by the Governor-General. London observers were surprised by comparatively low returns for the proindependence Umma Party, which to date has won only 17 seats in the Lower House.

The correspondents in Khartoum of “The Times” and the “Daily Telegraph” say that with 91 results declared in the Sudan’s first general election the National Unionist Party, regarded as pro-Egyptian. emerged as by far the strongest party. The results then gave the National Unionists 44 seats, the Umma 19, Independents 14. the Southern Party-mine, and the Socialist Republicans five. Results available in London are below the figures announced by Cairo Radio, which states that 51 National Unionists were elected. Several of the independents are expected to support the pro-Egyptians. The Southern Party favours independence, as do the Socialist Republicans, though they are opposed to the Umma, which is the biggest single party standing for independence. Result Welcomed in Egypt Egypt tonight hailed the result of the Sudan general election, on the basis of returns received in Cairo, as a victory for the National Unionist Party, Revolution leaders said the Unionist triumph was not only an assurance of projected unity between the two countries, but was also a victory for the regime of General Naguib. The Sudan at present is jointly governed by Britain and Egypt, but under the British and Egyptian Agreement, signed last February, will choose in three years’ time between independence and union with Egypt.

Of the National Unionist seats, 39 were won in the north and 12 in the south. Cairo Radio said the Umma Party, which favours the Sudan’s independence, won 17 seats, the Socialist Republicans three, the Independents three, and Southern Parties nine. Naguib’s Broadcast General Naguib said in a Cairo Radio broadcast that he had been anxious about the chances of Ismail Azhary, leader of the National Unionists, because of Imperialist machinations in his constituency. General Naguib said: “Now he is elected I wish well for our brothers the Sudanese, and hope the results of the elections will not leave bitterness behind.” Major Salah Salem, the Egyptian Minister of National Guidance and chief Egyptian architect of the AngloEgvptian agreement for self-rule and self-determination in the Sudan, is flying to Khartoum next week. He is expected to call on the leaders o* the Unionist and Umma Parties to unite in the next “critical phase of the Sudan’s history.”