At the end of June protesters in Khartoum called for reforms to be speeded up
KHARTOUM, July 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Sudan’s prime minister has replaced four key ministers after protests over the slow pace of reform following the overthrow of Omar al-Bashir as president last year.
Abdalla Hamdok dismissed the health minister and accepted the resignations of the three others – in charge of finance, foreign affairs, and energy, the government said.
Correspondents say the Sudanese economy was already in a crisis before the impact of the coronavirus so the new finance minister faces a daunting task amid worsening food and fuel shortages.
Authorities had said a reshuffle was coming, but few had expected the exit of Ibrahim al-Badawi, who as finance minister led efforts to steady Sudan’s crisis-stricken economy and liaised with foreign donors.
In a statement, the government said transitional Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok had dismissed the health minister and accepted the resignation of al-Badawi and the others. It named interim replacements to lead all seven ministries.
Hamdok leads a government of technocrats under a 39-month power-sharing agreement between the military and civilian groups that was reached following the removal of the country’s longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir last year.
Al-Badawi’s interim replacement will be Heba Ahmed Ali, a senior finance ministry official, the government statement said.
The reshuffle comes nine days after one person was killed and several others injured during largely peaceful demonstrations in Sudan demanding faster reform and greater civilian rule in the country’s transition towards democracy.
Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in Sudanese cities despite a coronavirus lockdown to demand a transition towards democracy after al-Bashir’s removal last year.
On the eve of the protests, Hamdok had promised to take a number of big decisions, without giving details.
Earlier this week, he fired Sudan’s police chief and his deputy, who were seen by pro-democracy groups as close to al-Bashir and his allies. — NNN-AGENCIES
