Sudan’s Bashir accepts resignation of information minister, relieves state minister

April 30, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir issued a decree late on Monday accepting the resignation of Information Minister Abdullah Ali Massar which has been pending at his desk since last week.

Massar got into a dispute with the presidency over his decision to suspend the director of Sudan’s official news agency (SUNA) Awad Jadain while he undergoes investigation for alleged financial and administrative irregularities.

On Friday, Bashir reversed Massar’s orders regarding Jadain and halted the work of an investigation committee into SUNA formed by the outgoing minister.

The council of ministers secretariat issued a statement today stressing that Massar had no legal authority over SUNA’s director as the latter is appointed by the presidency. Therefore only the president can take any action regarding Jadain.

Sana Hamad, state information minister, sided with Jadain and put a freeze on Massar’s decision while he was travelling abroad. This prompted Massar to cut short his trip and strip Hamad from her role as supervisor over SUNA.

Many in the street saw Jadain’s return as a victory to Hamad with many suggesting that she is a likely candidate to take over from him after deciding to quit his post.

But Bashir took the surprise move today and sacked Hamad without giving her a new role despite her wide popularity among citizens for her appearances on TV as representative of government positions on several key issues.

The decree did not appoint a new minister and it did not say who would be in charge in the interim.

(ST)