Sudan revises transitional declaration, Burhan signals potential for independent PM
February 19, 2025 (PORT SUDAN) – Sudan’s military-led government on Wednesday announced amendments to the Transitional Constitutional Declaration, as the head of the ruling Sovereign Council, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, signalled to a Western diplomat his desire to appoint an independent prime minister.
The amendments follow a request by the Sovereign Council for political forces and armed groups supporting the military to submit proposals to revise the 2019 transitional charter. These proposals included removing clauses related to the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC), the former ruling coalition, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
“The Sovereign Council and the Council of Ministers, in a joint meeting, approved the 2019 Transitional Constitutional Declaration, as amended in 2025, which is now in effect for the transitional period,” said government spokesperson and Minister of Information Khalid Aleisir in a press statement.
The spokesperson did not provide details of the amendments made to the document, which was initially agreed upon between the military and civilian forces that led the protests against the regime of ousted President Omer al-Bashir in 2019.
Burhan dissolved the civilian transitional government in October 2021, a move widely condemned as a military coup.
Earlier, sources told Sudan Tribune that the amendments to the constitutional declaration would grant al-Burhan broad powers to appoint and dismiss the prime minister and increase the number of Sovereign Council members.
According to the sources, the proposed amendments stipulate that the total number of Sovereign Council members would be nine, three representing the parties to the Juba Peace Agreement and six appointed by al-Burhan.
Burhan, Italian diplomat discuss political process
Meanwhile, al-Burhan met with the Italian Ambassador to Sudan, Michele Tomasi, who is temporarily residing in Addis Ababa, in Port Sudan.
Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Hussein al-Amin said in a press statement that the meeting discussed Italy’s support for Sudan and its people. He noted that the ambassador expressed Rome’s positions on Sudan during the meeting with the Sovereign Council head, where he criticized what he described as the “deviation” of the “Tagadum” alliance and its shift to supporting the rebellion, stressing Italy’s support and concern for Sudan’s unity and territorial integrity.
The Sudanese official pointed out that the head of the Sovereign Council briefed the ambassador on the upcoming phase in Sudan, stressing that “the coming period will witness the formation of a transitional government headed by a technocratic prime minister who does not belong to any party or political entity, and then move to the stage of organizing free and fair elections.”
In a separate statement, Ambassador Tomasi expressed his happiness to be back in Sudan after 22 months since the outbreak of the war.
He stated that his mission would be political and humanitarian. He said that he discussed with al-Burhan the ways to end the conflict, stressing that the priority should be a ceasefire to facilitate the passage of humanitarian aid to those who deserve it.
He added that ending human rights violations, preserving Sudan’s unity, and resuming the political transition should also be part of the upcoming period.
The meeting further touched on cooperation with Italy and the EU to support Sudan’s stabilisation, he said.
Italy is the only EU country that has a diplomatic mission in Port Sudan.