Sudan mulls forming new gov’t led by ousted PM

Sudanese Chief of Staff Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan yesterday announced that the country’s former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok was the “first candidate for the new government’s post of premier.”

“Despite my reservations, ongoing negotiations with Hamdok are currently taking place over his appointment as the new prime minister,” Al-Burhan told Sudan TV.

Al-Burhan pledged to complete the transitional power structures and the democratic transition “as soon as possible,” stressing that “justice, freedom, and peace will be achieved soon.”

“The new cabinet will include independent representatives from all states, without partisanship, regionalism or tribalism, but serving their country with love,” he said.

The Sudanese official pledged to complete the appointment of a new prime minister through a “nationwide participation in ten days.”

READ: African Union suspends Sudan amid military takeover

“Hamdok is welcome to apply for the primer post,” Al-Burhan said, noting that there were “ongoing negotiations regarding our proposal.” “We must rectify the course of the revolution for those martyrs we lost.”

Al-Burhan sacked the country’s radio and television director, Luqman Ahmed, appointing Ibrahim El Buz’i as his successor. He also dismissed the Sudanese official news agency chief, Mohamed Abdel Hamid Abdel Rahman, and replaced him with Fikriya Aba Yazid Mohamed.

Al-Burhan on Monday declared a state of emergency across Sudan and dissolved the Sovereignty Council and the transitional ministers. Hours earlier, authorities detained Hamdok, along with other ministers, officials and party leaders. The move has widely been seen as a coup.

Sudan’s military seized power and arrested Prime Minister, Abdalla Hamdok – Cartoon [Sabaaneh/Middle East Monitor]