Sudan’s Burhan delegates government powers to deputy and three generals
September 27, 2023 (PORT SUDAN) – Chairman of the Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, directed his deputy, Malik Agar, and three military who are members of the Sovereign Council to oversee the activities of the government ministries and entities.
Sudan has grappled with a constitutional vacuum since the military coup carried out by the army commander-in-chief and the Rapid Support Forces commander against the transitional civilian government led by Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok on October 25, 2023.
In a September 11 letter signed by the Secretary-General of the Sovereign Council Mohamed Al-Ghali, al-Burhan instructed the council members to supervise federal ministries and government bodies.
According to the directive seen by Sudan Tribune, Malik Agar, Deputy Chairman of the Sovereign Council, will oversee the ministries of Energy, Education, Social Development, Higher Education, Health, Media, Youth, Sports, and Religious Affairs.
Shams al-Din Kabbashi will supervise the Foreign Affairs, Cabinet Affairs, Interior, Federal Governance, Minerals, Justice, Irrigation and Water Resources ministries.
Lt Gen Yasir Al-Atta will be responsible for the ministries of Defence, Finance, the Bank of Sudan, the Public Prosecution, and the Auditor General’s Office.
Meanwhile, Lt Gen Ibrahim Jabir will oversee the Livestock, Agriculture, Trade, Industry, Investment, Communications, Urban Development, and Transport ministries.
Two Council members were excluded
Notably, the decision did not assign any duties to two council members: Hadi Idris, the head of the Sudan Liberation Movement-Transitional Council, and Tahir Hajer, the leader of the Gathering of Sudan Liberation Forces. Both assumed their positions under the Juba Peace Agreement.
An anonymous government official confirmed the authenticity of the leaked document, stating, “The distribution of supervisory roles over ministries to Sovereign Council members is an old decision made after the overthrow of Hamdok’s government following the coup on October 25, 2021. It has now been reactivated to exclude both Hadi Idris and Tahir Hajer.”
Since the commencement of the conflict between the army and the RSF on April 15, Idris and Hajer have maintained a stance of neutrality, refraining from supporting either side in the conflict. Both have actively participated in ongoing efforts by political forces to end the armed conflict and establish a civilian government. In July, they left Sudan as part of a delegation that included political leaders from the Forces for Freedom and Change and other political forces on a regional tour aimed at pressuring for an end to the war.
(ST)