Sudan's first multi-party elections in over two decades are due to be held the 11th of April 2010. As stipulated in the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended the north-south conflict, the elections will allow the Sudanese to freely elect their own representatives for the first time since 1986.

In connection with the election in April, SPLM Youth League organized an “Election Campaign and Mobilization work plan”- seminar in collaboration with the Norwegian People's Aid and AUF from 16th to 18th of February. Eighty participants from all states in the South including the “Transitional areas”, were present along with the Central Committee. Representing AUF member of the Central Board Åsmund Aukrust and political advisor Mari Aaby West also took part in the seminar.

SPLM YL and AUF have been collaborating on a joint project since 2008, and this was the second workshop attended by AUF. The seminar is considered to be crucial in mobilizing youths to take an active part in the upcoming elections.

- Holding of free and fair elections is a pivotal element of the implementation of the CPA and holds the promise of a peaceful national, political and democratic transformation of Sudan, says AUF-representative Aukrust.

In addition to the parliamentary elections South Sudan will also conduct a referendum next year deciding whether to remain a part of a united Sudan or to become a separate state of its own.

- These decisive events are extremely important for the future of Africa's largest country, and it is important that both the election and the referendum takes place peacefully so that new conflicts between north and south are avoided, Aukrust concludes.