This is a major milestone in the transition process to a civil power. After three decades of authoritarian rule, the first government in Sudan since the fall of President Omar al-Bashir in April was sworn in on Sunday (September 8th).
The 18 ministers, including four women, from the government of Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok, a veteran economist, were sworn in the presidential palace in the capital Khartoum, according to an AFP correspondent there. This new government must lead the country during a transition period of 39 months.
"We must put a lot of effort into responding to the demands of the people," Information Minister Fayçal Mohamed Saleh told reporters after the ceremony.
"The world is watching us, waiting to see how we are going to solve our problems," he added.
"The road ahead is not easy, we will face many challenges but we must work on it," said Walaa Issam, Minister of Youth and Sports.
Relaunching a moribund economy
The ceremony was attended by members of the Sovereign Council, including its leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhane.
In August, Sudan set up this Sovereign Council, a civilian-majority body, to oversee the transition, under an agreement between the Transitional Military Council, which succeeded Omar al-Bashir, and the leaders of the protest.
The government, which includes Sudan's first female foreign minister, will have to revive a moribund economy and end conflicts between power and rebel groups in the Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan regions.
Economic problems were the main cause of the demonstrations that began in December 2018 after the tripling of the price of bread. They had quickly turned into a challenge to Bashir, who has been in power since 1989.
More than 250 people died in the crackdown on the movement, according to a committee of doctors close to the dispute.
With AFP