African Union envoy calls to expedite appointment of prime minister in Sudan
January 11, 2022 (KHARTOUM) – African Union envoy to Sudan called for the swift formation of a government of technocrats to achieve the remaining tasks of the transition.
Special Representative of the Chairperson of the AU Commission to Sudan, Mohamed Belaiche, on Tuesday met with Shams al-Din Kabbashi Member of the Sovereign Council.
The meeting comes after a call by the military-led body to include the African Union in a UN initiative for a comprehensive dialogue to end the current political crisis after the coup of October 25, 2021.
The meeting discussed ways to settle the political stalemate after the military takeover and the dissolution of the transitional government.
Speaking after the meeting, Belaiche voiced his support to the current efforts to expand the political base of the transition saying they pave the way to stability and peace in Sudan.
He further added that the national reconciliation would lead to stability in Sudan.
“But before that, an independent government of technocrats must be formed quickly, after which the parties will work on the unified plan that will form the road map for the remainder of this (transitional) period,” he said.
On the same day, the Sovereign Council said in a separate statement that al-Burhan told South Sudanese Presidential Adviser Castillo Garang that they are keen to complete the institutions of the transition and appoint a prime minister.
It was not clear if the African Union diplomat was expressing the position of the regional body.
Shefei Khidir a Sudanese politician and a friend of the former Prime Minister Hamdok told a teleconference forum on Monday that the military component is attempting to appoint a new prime minister before the UN-sponsored consultations.
“But this attempt will not be successful because the Sovereign Council has no legitimacy to appoint a new prime minister. Such a step will not be the right solution now,” he said.
The Troika and the European Union in a joint statement after Hamdok’s resignation warned against the unilateral appointment of a new prime minister and called to engage in an internationally facilitated dialogue to address transitional issues and his appointment alike.
“Unilateral action to appoint a new Prime Minister and Cabinet would undermine those institutions’ credibility and risks plunging the nation into conflict,” said the joint statement on January 4.
IGAD’s initiative
The IGAD also on Tuesday expressed its desire to join the UN-facilitated intra-Sudanese process.
Salma Abdel Jabbar al-Mubarak, Member of the Sovereignty Council received Tuesday the Head of the IGAD office in Sudan, Osman Hassan Belail.
During the meeting, Belail briefed al-Mubarak on an initiative by the IGAD executive secretary to hold a process under the auspices of the East African regional block to overcome the current political crisis in Sudan, according to a statement by the Sovereign Council.
The statement did not provide further details about this initiative and if it would be separate from the UN’s initiative or not.
(ST)