South Sudan’s former rebels have chosen a northern Muslim as their candidate in April’s presidential election, the country’s first multiparty poll since 1986. The candidacy of Yassir Arman was announced by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, which leads the government in the semi-autonomous south, after lengthy talks among party officials.

“The political bureau have unanimously picked comrade Yassir Said Arman as SPLM presidential candidate for the republic of Sudan,” Pagan Amum, the party’s secretarygeneral, said.

“Comrade Yassir Arman has been for a long-time freedom fighter, struggling in different fields for the SPLM. He has made tireless work to democratise the country and achieve a transition from totalitarian regime to democratic system of government in our country.”