Sudan’s Bashir relieves Lam Akol from foreign ministry, appoints Deng Alor

October 16, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — In unexpected move Sudanese president tonight has removed the former minister of foreign affairs, Lam Akol, and appointed Deng Alor in his place. He also dismissed Telar Deng from the presidency.

Omer Hassan al-Bashir on Tuesday night issued a presidential decree appointing three SPLM ministers: Deng Alor as minister of foreign affairs, Mansour Khalid as minister of foreign trade and Lam Akol as cabinet affairs minister.

Al-Bashir also named prof George Bornek, minister of higher education, James Kol Rona, minister of humanitarian affairs, Kosta Manibi, minister of investment.

Peter Neyot Kok and William Ajak Deng were appointed presidential advisors.

Also Al-Bashir issued a decree nominating the following state ministers: Lual Ashol Lual, minister of state at the presidency of the republic, Telar Deng, minister of state at the Ministry of Justice, Abbas Juma Obeid Allah, minister of state at the Ministry of Animal Resources and Fisheries, Bol Mirial Dok, minister of state at the Ministry of Industry, Ismail Khamis Jallab, minister of state at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Aleu Anitu, minister of state at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

The cabinet reshuffle is one demand of SPLM’s demands that provoked withdrawal from national unity government last week triggering the country’s worst political crisis in years.

This move comes hours after a meeting between the Sudanese president and a SPLM delegation headed by Riek Machar the southern Sudan vice-president.

Machar told the press that Bashir and Kiir will meet within 48 hours to discuss the pending issue in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement implementation.

(ST)