By Kei Emmanuel Duku
Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, expressed hope that Dr. Idris’s selection would “mark a meaningful step toward reviving an inclusive political process.”
Sudan’s Transitional Sovereign Council Chairman, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has appointed Dr. Kamil al-Tayeb Idris as the country’s new Prime Minister.
The appointment, made on Monday, May 19, marks the first time Sudan has had a Prime Minister since Abdalla Hamdok’s resignation in January 2022, which followed a military coup.
Dr. Idris’s appointment comes as Sudan remains trapped in a brutal conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
In a statement seen by this outlet, Dr. Workneh stressed that “silencing the guns in Sudan’s conflict is essential to ending civilian suffering, enabling humanitarian access, and creating an environment conducive to dialogue.”
Dr. Gebeyehu further urged all Sudanese stakeholders to engage in broad-based national consultations aimed at restoring constitutional governance, forging peace, and laying the foundation for a stable and democratic Sudan.
“IGAD’s call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, IGAD remains steadfast in its commitment to the sovereignty, unity, and stability of Sudan, and stands ready to support efforts toward a peaceful, democratic, and sustainable future,” he affirmed.
However, the true authority Dr. Idris will hold in a nation devastated by conflict and effectively divided between warring factions remains uncertain.
The move by al-Burhan’s government, which is currently based in Port Sudan, appears to be an attempt to project an image of a functioning state and introduce a civilian presence to the military-led administration.
The appointment of Dr. Kamil al-Tayeb Idris as Prime Minister is also seen as a response to international pressure for a return to civilian governance and an inclusive political process.
Currently, the Sudanese citizens are grappling with an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, widespread displacement, and the collapse of basic services as the conflict continues to rage, particularly in Darfur, Khartoum, and Kordofan, making the task for the ruling government, regardless of its composition.
The conflict, which erupted in April 2023, has already claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions.
A seasoned career diplomat and former United Nations official, Dr. Idris served as the Director-General of the UN’s World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) from 1997 to 2008.
His experience also includes roles within Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a tenure at the country’s permanent mission to the UN.
Notably, he previously ran as an independent candidate against then-President Omar al-Bashir in the 2010 presidential elections.