{"id":20106410,"date":"2024-11-07T15:29:35","date_gmt":"2024-11-07T14:29:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dabangasudan.org\/?p=20106410"},"modified":"2024-11-08T08:13:47","modified_gmt":"2024-11-08T07:13:47","slug":"sudans-de-facto-government-appointees-met-with-criticism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dabangasudan.org\/en\/all-news\/article\/sudans-de-facto-government-appointees-met-with-criticism","title":{"rendered":"Sudan\u2019s de facto government appointees met with criticism"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Following Lt Gen Abdelfattah El Burhan\u2019s reshuffle of Sudan\u2019s de facto government, which saw the replacement of four key ministers, the move has already faced criticism from various quarters. While analysts see it as an attempt to solidify his power amid Sudan\u2019s ongoing conflict, the reshuffle also includes two eastern Sudanese appointees, responding to longstanding calls for regional representation. However, critics argue that the changes fail to address the country\u2019s deeper political and security challenges.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

El Burhan\u2019s appointments<\/a> include Ambassador Ali Yousef as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Omar Banefeer as Minister of Trade and Supply, journalist Khaled Aleiser as Minister of Culture and Information, and Omar Bakheet, a Salafist, as Minister of Religious Affairs and Endowments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sharif Osman, leader of the\u00a0Civil Democratic Forces alliance<\/a>\u00a0(Tagadom) and political secretary of the Sudanese Congress Party, criticised the reshuffle. \u201cThis reshuffle isn\u2019t about ending the war. It\u2019s about pacifying El Burhan\u2019s allies, especially those eyeing control over Port Sudan,\u201d Osman told Radio Dabanga.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He warned that the moves might encourage further territorial division, especially given the new ministerial roles assigned to eastern Sudanese figures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe timing couldn\u2019t be worse,\u201d he added, referring to recent violence affecting residents of eastern\u00a0El Gezira\u00a0<\/a>by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Political analyst Hatem Elyas suggested the reshuffle reflects tactics dating back to Sudan’s early \u201crescue\u201d governments. “Figures like Aleiser, with close military ties and prior roles in state media, represent a fa\u00e7ade of competence that ultimately serves coup leaders,\u201d Elias said, noting that such appointments are often about optics rather than reform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Khaled Aleiser, the new Minister of Culture and Information, was a director at Nilein TV<\/em> during Omar Al Bashir\u2019s regime and has been a vocal SAF supporter on satellite channels since the war began. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similarly, Omar Banefeer\u2019s appointment as trade minister may ease tensions among eastern communities due to his background in regional governance during Al Bashir\u2019s rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abdallah Obshar, rapporteur of the eastern Sudanese High Council of Beja Nazirs and Independent Chieftains, cautiously welcomed the appointments of Banefeer and Bakheet, saying they are \u201ca step towards responding to eastern Sudan\u2019s demands.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, he stressed that much more remains, including a dedicated negotiation platform for eastern issues and a fair distribution of resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Civil society activist Hamrour Hussein in Kassala downplayed the impact, describing it as \u201ca moral victory that doesn\u2019t change the reality in eastern Sudan.\u201d He argued that eastern Sudan\u2019s issues go beyond representation and require substantial economic and social development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ambassador Ali Yousef\u2019s appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs is seen as a nod to Sudan\u2019s diplomatic relationships with Egypt and China, countries with which he shares longstanding ties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Yousef, over 75, faces health issues and the challenge of navigating Port Sudan\u2019s shifting power dynamics and dealing with fractured Sudanese diplomatic circles amid the war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sudan\u2019s foreign affairs have been in flux, with Yousef being the third foreign minister appointed in 10 months, following Ambassador Ali El Sadig and Ambassador Hussein Awad, both of whom struggled to resolve key international issues, including the African Union\u2019s suspension of Sudan<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reshuffle, while addressing some demands, reflects a cautious consolidation of power by El Burhan, which many see as geared more toward stabilising his control than achieving peace.<\/p>\n