Khartoum (AFP)

Sudan is preparing Wednesday for the announcement of the composition of the new government called to revive a bloodless economy and end internal conflicts, after months of unprecedented contestation that has brought down President Omar al-Bashir.

Invested on August 21, Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok is to appoint members of his cabinet, among the names proposed by the Forces for Freedom and Change (FLC), spearhead of the protest movement.

"I received on Tuesday the names of the candidates proposed by the FLC," Hamdok said, adding that he has 49 proposals for 14 ministries. He added that he would focus on "fair representation of women".

According to a timetable agreed by the parties to the historic agreement signed on August 17 on the transition to Sudan after three decades of military rule, the composition of the government is to be announced Wednesday.

This will take place a week after the enthronement of the Sovereign Council, a civilian-led, military-led body that will lead this transition to civilian rule for just over three years.

On Saturday, Hamdok said he would choose technocrats based on their "skills". "We want a homogeneous team that lives up to the challenges."

The government must be composed of a maximum of 20 members, chosen by Mr. Hamdok with the exception of the Ministers of the Interior and Defense, who will be appointed by the military members of the Sovereign Council.

The first government-council meeting is scheduled for September 1st.

- "lasting peace" -

"The coming government will have massive popular support," said Othman Mirghani, a Sudanese analyst and editor of the independent daily Al-Tayyar.

According to him, the government will have to focus on the conclusion of peace agreements with rebel groups in the regions of the country in conflict, especially those who rejected the transition agreement.

Concluded by the FLC and the military council that had succeeded Bashir dismissed and arrested by the army on April 11, this agreement outlines the transition and mentions the need to make peace with the rebels within six months .

Hamdok promised "to stop the war and build a lasting peace".

Several rebel groups from marginalized states, including Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan, have fought Omar al-Bashir's forces for years.

Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed in all three conflicts and millions displaced. Hundreds of thousands still live in camps.

While the Darfur conflict has declined in intensity since its beginning in 2003, rebels have remained active in other areas.

- Cautious optimism -

The other challenge for the government will be to recover the economy that collapsed after the secession of the South in 2011, as Sudan lost three-quarters of its oil reserves.

Two decades of US sanctions for human rights violations, lifted in 2017, have worsened the situation and the country is facing rampant inflation, chronic shortages of basic necessities and a glaring shortage of foreign exchange.

The economic distress of the Sudanese was the main cause of the outbreak of the demonstrations in December 2018, after the government's decision to triple the price of bread.

The protests quickly turned into a protest against General Bashir. During the nearly eight months of protests, more than 250 people died in the crackdown according to a committee of doctors close to the protest.

Foreign investment has also remained weak as Sudan remains on the US blacklist of "states supporting terrorism," but Hamdok says talks are underway with US officials to address it.

Sudanese, however, are waiting for the new government with cautious optimism.

"I am more optimistic since the Prime Minister said he would choose his ministers according to their competence," says Mohamed Amin, a 32-year-old private company employee. They will be really "put to the test when they tackle the challenges".

For Mohamed Babiker, a 65-year-old farmer, rebuilding the economy will depend on the government's ability to leverage the country's resources, including agriculture.

"If it does, it will do a lot for the stability of the country."

© 2019 AFP