Sudanese Govt. Acknowledges Difficulties in Appointing State Governors

Civilians walk past graffiti reading in Arabic 'Freedom, Peace, Justice and Civilian' in the Burri district of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan, July 10, 2019. (Reuters)
Civilians walk past graffiti reading in Arabic 'Freedom, Peace, Justice and Civilian' in the Burri district of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan, July 10, 2019. (Reuters)
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Sudanese Govt. Acknowledges Difficulties in Appointing State Governors

Civilians walk past graffiti reading in Arabic 'Freedom, Peace, Justice and Civilian' in the Burri district of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan, July 10, 2019. (Reuters)
Civilians walk past graffiti reading in Arabic 'Freedom, Peace, Justice and Civilian' in the Burri district of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan, July 10, 2019. (Reuters)

Sudan’s government spokesperson, Minister of Culture and Information Faisal Mohamed Salih said that appointing state governors “might not satisfy some sides”.

Salih added that the process was challenging due to several major complications, adding that he can’t claim there was unanimity on all the candidates, but rather consensus.

Meanwhile, the National Umma Party (NUP), headed by Sadiq al-Mahdi, announced its withdrawal from participation. The party stressed that it refuses to take part in the local ruling structures based on the current standards set by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok.

Dozens of citizens from Kassala and North Kordofan took to the streets to protest against the new appointments.

Moreover, NUP deputy chairman Siddiq Mohamed Ismail criticized the approach adopted in the appointment process.

“We had informed the PM of the need to agree on standards and approve the state rule law before the appointment of governors,” he said.

On Wednesday, Hamdok appointed civilian governors for 18 states.

Mariam al-Mahdi, deputy leader of the NUP, objected against assigning Ayman Khalid as the governor of Khartoum. She said that this state represents the capital and should not be subject to partisan quotas, explaining that the party prefers that all political parties agree on a qualified candidate.

She reiterated the NUP’s backing of the transitional government, stressing that there is an urgent need to establish the structure of the authority during the transitional period.

Appointing the governors took several months due to the differences between Hamdok and the Forces of Freedom and Change. A major obstacle was appointing governors of states that are dominated by tribes and different ethnic groups.

The government spokesman called for backing the appointments in order ensure the success of the transitional period and pave the way for holding free and transparent elections.



Palestinian Authority at Risk of Collapse, Norway Says

Foreign Minister of Norway Espen Barth Eide attends the annual Kultaranta Talks -debate session on foreign and security policy at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland June 13, 2024. (Lehtikuva/Markku Ulander via Reuters)
Foreign Minister of Norway Espen Barth Eide attends the annual Kultaranta Talks -debate session on foreign and security policy at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland June 13, 2024. (Lehtikuva/Markku Ulander via Reuters)
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Palestinian Authority at Risk of Collapse, Norway Says

Foreign Minister of Norway Espen Barth Eide attends the annual Kultaranta Talks -debate session on foreign and security policy at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland June 13, 2024. (Lehtikuva/Markku Ulander via Reuters)
Foreign Minister of Norway Espen Barth Eide attends the annual Kultaranta Talks -debate session on foreign and security policy at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland June 13, 2024. (Lehtikuva/Markku Ulander via Reuters)

The Palestinian Authority could collapse in the coming months, Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said on Monday, citing a lack of funding, continuing violence and the fact that half a million Palestinians are not allowed to work in Israel.

"The Palestinian Authority, with whom we work closely, are warning us that they might be collapsing this summer," Barth Eide told Reuters.

Norway chairs the international donor group to the Palestinians and is a backer of the PA.