Sudan’s first cabinet appointed since the ousting of former president Omar al-Bashir in April was sworn in Sunday before Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, the head of the sovereign council, and the country’s top judge, Babaker Abbas, reported France 24.
Led by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, the cabinet took the oath at the presidential palace in Khartoum. It includes the country’s first female foreign affairs minister, Asmaa Abdalla, and a former World Bank economist Ibrahim Ahmad al-Badawi as the finance minister. Prime Minister Hamdok is still negotiating with the pro-democracy movement over the last two cabinet posts to complete his 20-member Cabinet.
The 18-member cabinet is expected to lead Sudan through formidable challenges that also include ending internal conflicts in three regions. It will steer the daily affairs of the country during a transition period of 39 months when general elections are scheduled to be held. The toughest challenge facing the new government is reviving the ailing economy.
“We have to put in a lot of efforts to meet our people’s demands,” Information Minister Faisal Mohamed Saleh told reporters after the swearing-in ceremony. “The world is watching us. It is waiting to see how we can solve our issues.”
The line-up was formed last month after a sovereign council – a joint civilian-military ruling body- swore in to oversee the transition. The sovereign council was established as part of a power-sharing deal between protesters and generals who seized power after the army removed Bashir in April.
The agreement was signed after months of negotiations that were accompanied by a deadly crackdown by security forces. It was signed following pressure from the United States and its Arab allies amid growing concerns that the political crisis could ignite a civil war.
As per the power-sharing deal, the newly formed government will need to reach a peace agreement with the rebels within six months.
