Renowned Economist Abdalla Hamdok sworn in as Sudan’s new prime minister on Wednesday as the country embarks on a three-year transition to civilian rule after months of mass protest forced the military removal of longtime President Omar al-Bashir, reported France 24.
Hamdok vowed to work towards ending the country’s economic crisis and establishing peace.
“I think with the right vision, with the right policies, we will be able to address this economic crisis,” the new prime minister said after the swearing-in ceremony. “We will have a plan that will address the immediate challenges through our recovery program, addressing the felt need by the people: issues of inflation, availability of commodities, wheat, fuel, medicine and all that.”
He told reporters that the government’s top priorities now are to stop the war, build sustainable peace, address the severe economic crisis and build a balanced foreign policy.
Hamdok will name a 20-member cabinet, excluding the defence and interior ministers, within the next 21 days. Those posts will be appointed by the military members of the sovereign council.
Hamdok’s appointment came hours after the swearing-in of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan as leader of the new Sovereign Council that will run the country for three years. Burhan will be the head of state for 21 months, after which a civilian is expected to take over for the remainder of the period.
The sovereign council replaces the Transition Military Council that took charge after Bashir was toppled following mass protests. The newly formed council will run the country until an election. It comprises of six civilians and five members of the armed forces.
Nine members of the council were sworn in before the judiciary head after Burhan took the oath on Wednesday. The final member, Mohamed al-Hassan al-Taishi, will be sworn in at a later unspecified date, state news agency SUNA said. Notably, the council held its first meeting in the capital of Khartoum after the members took the oath of office.
