Hamdok: We Want to Ensure the Success of Democratic Transition

Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok (File photo: Reuters)
Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok (File photo: Reuters)
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Hamdok: We Want to Ensure the Success of Democratic Transition

Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok (File photo: Reuters)
Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok (File photo: Reuters)

Sudan should not meet the fate of many regional countries that faced difficulties and challenges during their transition, leading to their collapse, said Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok.

Speaking at the first meeting of the national mechanism to implement the "National Crisis and Transition Issues - The Way Forward" initiative, Hamdok called on the Sudanese people to ensure the success of the transitional period and its goals.

The PM said that he did not hold clear or direct consultations with the military. However, they are aware of all the initiative developments, indicating that he met the Head of Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and his deputy, Mohammad 'Hemdeti' Hamdan.

The meeting addressed the tasks of the initiative, and they asserted the need to include issues of democratic transition.

Hamdok asserted that dialogue and consultation with the military component would continue because its role is vital to complete the transition and agree on the axes of the initiative, not just security and military reform.

The Prime Minister stressed that the mechanism for implementing the initiative is temporary to accomplish specific tasks within two months.

He called on the Sudanese to maintain "the unique Sudanese experience towards democratic transition."

Sudan's comprehensive national crisis is political, said Hamdok, reiterating that Sudan "will not succeed in moving from this stage to democratic civil rule unless it confronts these issues with courage and clarity."

He said that the initiative's main objective is to unite the forces of the revolution to support and accomplish the transition.

For his part, the head of the mechanism, Fadlallah Barama Nasser, said that the national initiative comes at a critical stage.

Nasser indicated that the mechanism is the last chance and a lifeline to ensure the country doesn't slip into chaos.

Nasser, who is also the designated head of the National Umma Party, stressed that the mechanism would include opinions vital for its implementation, tasks, and chances of success.

He said: "We have less than 60 days to accomplish a great task," adding that "it is a difficult task, but not impossible."

The National Mechanism includes 71 members from leaders of political parties, indigenous administrations, Sufi orders, and civil society organizations.

It calls for extensive dialogue and discussions to achieve the most significant degree of consensus among Sudanese components on construction and democratic transition issues.



Libya Preparing to Restart Oil Output as Central Bank Crisis Eases

A view of the Central Bank of Libya in Tripoli, Libya, August 26, 2024. (Reuters)
A view of the Central Bank of Libya in Tripoli, Libya, August 26, 2024. (Reuters)
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Libya Preparing to Restart Oil Output as Central Bank Crisis Eases

A view of the Central Bank of Libya in Tripoli, Libya, August 26, 2024. (Reuters)
A view of the Central Bank of Libya in Tripoli, Libya, August 26, 2024. (Reuters)

Libya was preparing to restart oil production that has been shut since late of August after an agreement on a new head of the central bank was reached, two oilfield engineers told Reuters on Tuesday.

"We are now waiting for orders from the Corporation (the state oil firm) to resume production at its normal levels after a month-long stoppage," said an engineer from the Jalu 59 oilfield.

An engineer from the El-Feel oilfield said they took advantage of the almost one-month closure to carry out maintenance.

National production and export operations were stopped in August when the parallel government in eastern Libya declared the closure of oil facilities in a protest of the ousting of veteran Central Bank of Libya (CBL) governor Sadiq Kabir by the Presidential Council in Tripoli.

A new CBL governor, Naji Mohamed Issa Belgasem, and his deputy, Mari Muftah Rahil Barrasi were approved on Monday by the two legislative bodies; the east-based House of Representatives in Benghazi and High State Council in Tripoli.

Belgasem and Barrasi took an oath before parliament on Tuesday during a televised session.

Libya's National Oil Corporation said on Aug. 28 that oil production had dropped by more than half of typical levels. It has not made public any new production figures since then.

Libya's oil output has been disrupted repeatedly in the chaotic decade since the country divided in 2014 between two administrations in its east and west following the NATO-backed uprising that toppled Moammar al-Gaddafi in 2011.