No final decisions made on formation of new government: source

July 20, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – The ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir has not made final decisions on the upcoming cabinet shuffle, a government source told Sudan Tribune.

The source, who asked for anonymity, dismissed media reports speculating on the final formation of the post-shuffle cabinet adding that heated discussions are underway within the highest echelons of power on what changes should be made.

On Saturday, some Khartoum newspapers stated that defense minister Abdel-Rahim Mohamed Hussein, justice minister Mohamed Bushara Dousa and minister of Dams Osama Abdullah are set to stay in their posts.

This ran contrary to previous reports which asserted that these three ministers will be relieved in the shuffle.

It was also reported that current agriculture minister Abdel-Halim al-Mutaafi would take over the finance ministry while interior ministry would be assigned to former intelligence director Salah Gosh and foreign ministry post given to ex-presidential adviser Ghazi Salah al-Deen al-Attabani.

But the source said the interior and foreign relations posts choices are still being debated and said it is unlikely that Gosh and al-Attabani would be shortlisted.

“Let us just wait and see however; everything is possible” he said.

In separate statements, al-Attabani dismissed the upcoming cabinet changes saying that it will be a change in faces but not in programmes.

The former head of NCP parliamentary caucus added that a change in approach and policies is needed to tackle the problems facing the country.

In a related development, the assumed head of last year’s coup attempt Brigadier-General Mohammed Ibrahim Abdel Galil who was released on an amnesty from Bashir last May vowed to continue his reform pursuit until public officials are servants to the people not their masters.

Last year the Sudanese authorities thwarted what it said was a coup plot planned by pro-NCP figures in the army and security apparatus including Abdel Galil and Gosh.

There have been mounting signs of divisions within the NCP and frustration particularly within the younger generations in the party about the lack of change in the leadership many of whom retained their positions for more than two decades.

President Bashir himself has also recently appeared to shy away from his pledge this year not to seek re-election in 2015.

(ST)