Gedaref state governor resigns: state media

May 4, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – The governor of Gedaref state Karamallah Abbas has submitted his resignation to president Omer Hassan al-Bashir who accepted it, Sudan state media reported.

Because Abbas disbanded his cabinet Bashir appointed Al-Saw Mohamed al-Mahi as an acting governor until new elections can be held, the report said.

Abbas could not be immediately reached for comment.

This week, the governor dissolved his state government upon returning from Khartoum where he reportedly clashed with federal finance minister Ali Mahmood Abdel-Rasool over financial disbursements in arrears not paid to the state government.

Abbas lashed out at the finance minister saying the latter has more powers than the presidency. He warned that that the central government is now on the verge of collapse because it now became a one-man show.

He vowed not to resign and said Bashir can’t force him out because he is an elected official. It is not clear what prompted the change of heart.

The ruling National Congress Party (NCP) dispatched a delegation to meet the governor and it was reported that he was given the choices of either to resign, be sacked or for him to reverse his decision to dissolve the state cabinet.

The delegation returned to Khartoum and immediately convened a meeting with NCP organisational bureau which continued late into the night.

(ST)