Sudan: New government to be announced next week

The new Sudanese Government of National Reconciliation will be announced next week despite some parties not presenting shortlists of candidates for the expected appointments, a Sudanese presidential assistant said yesterday.

Speaking at a press conference, Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid confirmed that the new government would not exceed 31 ministries and that the ruling party would give up some of its own seats to ensure ministerial positions for members of parties participating in the National Dialogue process.

“Consultations to form the government of national reconciliation have been concluded; we have not received a shortlist of candidates for the Popular Congress Party (PCP), and one other, but the PCP will participate in the government.  We expect the announcement will most likely be made next week,” he said.

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Hamid confirmed that the current presidency, the parliamentary speaker and the states’ governors would not be affected by the formation of the new government and said that there was now no moral justification for taking up arms or continuing to fight the government that has received the support of the regional and international communities.

Hamid made direct reference to the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement – North, (SPLM-N) and criticised the rebel group’s demand to delay talks with the government, as a “flimsy excuse”.

“The SPLM-N’s request to the United States not to lift sanctions on Sudan is a shameful stance as the burden of the sanctions would fall on the Sudanese people,” he added.

Since the secession of South Sudan following a referendum in 2011, the rebel group SPLM-N have been at war with the Sudanese government in two northern areas, South Kordofan and the Blue Nile fighting for greater autonomy. These regions were given special status in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005 because of their political alignment with South Sudan, but were not given a vote in the referendum.

The formation of the new government is the culmination of a two-year process referred to as the National Dialogue. Armed groups, such as the SPLM-N, were banned by Sudan’s government and took no part in the reconciliation process.