Khartoum (AFP)
Consultations continue Sunday in Sudan to achieve the formation of the government, four days after the date originally planned for the announcement of the new cabinet, which must mark one of the main stages of the post-Bashir transition.
Invested on August 21, Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok was to announce the composition of his government Wednesday and this Sunday was to be the occasion of the first meeting with the Sovereign Council, a civil majority but led by a military who must oversee the transition.
But the Forces for Freedom and Change (FLC), the spearhead of the protest that led to the fall of President Omar al-Bashir in April, only gave him the list of "ministrables" one day before the date scheduled for the announcement.
Last Tuesday, the Prime Minister confirmed having received a list of 49 candidates for 14 portfolios.
On Sunday, according to a source close to Mr Hamdok interviewed by AFP, the consultations were "still in progress" to establish the final list.
"Detailed and constructive" discussions were held Saturday with Abdallah Hamdok, for their part commented the FLC. Mr. Hamdok has not commented on him in recent days.
- "Late" -
"The FLC were late to submit the list of names to the Prime Minister, which delayed the announcement," said AFP Amjef Farid, a leader of the dispute.
Another leader, Ibrahim al-Amin, explained that this delay was due to "disputes" within the movement on the list to propose.
Sudan established a Sovereign Council following the signing of an agreement on 17 August between the Transitional Military Council, which succeeded Bashir, and the leaders of the protest.
This agreement outlines a transition period that will last a little over three years and open the door to democratic elections.
Mr Hamdok is to appoint up to 20 ministers, with the exception of the Ministers of the Interior and Defense, who will be chosen by the military of the Sovereign Council.
After appointing his government, Mr. Hamdok, an experienced economist and former UN collaborator, will have the difficult task of raising Sudan's economy.
The next step in the transition, according to the terms of the agreement, will be the establishment of a legislature, less than 90 days after it is signed. This assembly must have 300 members including 201 from the FLC.
- "Negative impact" -
According to Amin, the delay of the government's announcement will have "a negative impact" and could slow down the transition.
But this is not the first time that this one is put to the test: the appointment of the Sovereign Council had been delayed by two days because of disputes within the FLC, before being finally announced on August 21st.
The prime minister had previously said he would choose his ministers from among technocrats on the basis of their "skills" to enable Sudan to meet its many challenges, including ending conflicts in the Darfur, Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan.
Rebels from these marginalized areas fought for years against the Bashir regime, overthrown after four months of unprecedented protests triggered by the tripling of the price of bread.
The text signed on August 17 by the military and the challenge includes the need to sign peace agreements with these armed groups.
On Saturday, four rebel groups in Darfur (West) announced that they would "negotiate with the transitional authorities" by adopting a common position, without giving further details.
The other challenge of the government will be to end the corruption and dismantle the deep state established by the Islamists who supported the accession to power of Mr. Bashir in 1989.
Arrested and transferred to Kober prison after his dismissal, the former president was indicted Saturday for "possession and illegal use of foreign funds." He incurs up to 10 years in prison for the acquisition of these funds and up to three years in prison for their fraudulent use.
This case does not concern the heavy charges brought against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for a decade, including for crimes against humanity in Darfur.
© 2019 AFP