Sudan’s Hamdok appoints civilian governors

July 22, 2020 (Nyamilepedia) – Sudanese Prime Minister, Abdallah Hamdok has announced the appointment of civilian governors, a key step in the country’s transition to democracy after more than a year since the overthrow of longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir.

Hamdok said in a televised news conference that his government would gradually slash some energy subsidies as part reforms to help the African nation face daunting economic challenges.

He said the new governors, who included two women for the Nile River and the Norther provinces, would take office in the “next few days.”

“This is the genuine beginning of change in the provinces,” he said. “I hope this step will have a profound effect in preserving security and stability.”

He acknowledged that the representation of women among the governors was unambitious, proposing higher representation for women in the provincial governments.

“We need to deal with this issue and to go beyond slogans to the real action,” Hamdok said.

Women were at the forefront of the popular uprising that led the military to topple al-Bashir in April 2019 after nearly three decades in power.

A power-sharing agreement, signed last August between the military and protesters, created a joint military-civilian administration that must navigate a delicate path toward eventual democratic elections in 2022.

The appointment of the governors and the make-up of an interim parliament were part of the power-sharing agreement.

The government has apparently reached a compromise with Sudan’s rebels since they both had agreed to delay the appointment of new governors and the make-up of an interim legislative body until they struck a peace deal.