The African Union welcomes the appointment of Sudan's prime minister
The African Union (AU) has expressed its satisfaction following the appointment of Kamel Tayeb Idris as the new prime minister of Sudan, after a decree issued by the chairman of the Sovereignty Council, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, while the Sudanese Armed Forces continued their large-scale military operations in the Salha region of Omdurman.
The appointment of the new prime minister was made official when Abdel Fattah al-Burhan signed a decree appointing Kamel Idris. The decree also appointed Salma Abdel Jabbar Al-Mubarak and Nawara Abu Mohamed Taher as members of the Sovereignty Council, according to the Sudanese state news agency (SUNA).
Idris is a former UN official and was an independent candidate in the 2010 presidential elections against then-President Omar al-Bashir, according to SUNA. He is a lawyer and is known for having led the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) in Geneva for two terms, as well as being a member of the UN International Law Commission.
Mahmoud Ali Youssef, head of the AU Commission, considered Idris' appointment ‘a major step forward towards more inclusive governance in Sudan's international landscape since the 2021 coup.’ He also expressed his hope that Idris' election ‘will have a significant impact on efforts to restore constitutional order and democratic government in Sudan.’
This is the first official announcement of a prime minister in Sudan since the 2021 military coup, which dismantled an unstable civilian-led government and plunged the country into political paralysis.
In an official statement, Youssef urged all parties to ‘intensify their efforts towards a peaceful, inclusive and civilian transition that reflects the wishes of the Sudanese people.’ He also assured that ‘the AU Commission stands ready to support Sudan in this regard, working with the new government as regional and international partners.’
The statement also highlighted ‘the African Union's firm commitment to the unity, sovereignty and stability of Sudan, as well as to the search for a sustainable political solution that ensures peace, development in all areas and a democratic government for all Sudanese.’
Sudanese Army spokesman Nabil Abdullah reported that government forces, which are conducting ongoing operations, will not cease despite the new appointment. ‘Our troops are advancing in the south and west of Omdurman and continue to clear the Salha area and its surroundings. We are in the midst of a major operation and are close to achieving the total clearance of the state of Khartoum.’
A day before Kamel Tayeb Idris was appointed Sudan's new prime minister, the Sudanese army launched a military operation in the Salha region, considered one of the last major strongholds of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Omdurman.
