Sudan’s council of ministers reinstates dismissed staff members
March 6, 2022 (KHARTOUM) – About 22 civil servants who were dismissed by the Empowerment Removal Committee earlier on Sunday returned to their offices in the Council of Ministers after a judicial order cancelled the dismissal decision nearly two years ago.
The suspended Empowerment Removal Committee had decided to sack dozens of people appointed in the civil service by the regime of ousted President Omer al-Bashir saying their appointment was politically motivated and did not observe recruitment procedure in public service.
However, after the suspension of the committee by the coup leaders, Sudanese courts issued several decisions cancelling their decisions.
On Sunday, the Council of Minister reinstated 22 of its staff members who had been removed upon a decision by the Supreme Court reversing the irregular termination of their appointment.
The acting Minister of Cabinet Affairs in charge, Osman Hussein stated that the return of the workers represents a real addition as they bring back their experience and expertise to the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers.
Last January, the same court ordered the reinstitution of 103 civil servants from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs including ambassadors, diplomats and administrators.
After the coup d’etat of October 25, 2021, al-Burhan reappointed many former civil servants and intelligence officers who had been removed from the government institutions due to their relation or affiliation to the banned al-Bashir party.
Al-Burhan supporters say the reinstated servants are skilled people who served the former regime but they are not necessarily Islamists. While the pro-democracy formes say they the dismissed were only unqualified people and appointed for political considerations.
After the coup, the head of the Sovereign Council relieved civil servants appointed by the Hamdok government.
The Empowerment Removal Committee has been tasked with the dismantlement of the former regime and ending the empowerment of the Sudanese Islamists made during the past 30 years.
Several members of the Committee, including a member of the Sovereign Council and the cabinet affairs minister, are in prison charged with breach of trust.
Their lawyers revealed on Saturday that the detainees are now facing new charges such as illicit wealth and dealing in foreign exchange.
(ST)