Sudan’s Burhan Calls for Dissolving Hamdok Gov’t

Chairman of the Sovereignty Council of Sudan Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (right) and Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok (left), AFP
Chairman of the Sovereignty Council of Sudan Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (right) and Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok (left), AFP
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Sudan’s Burhan Calls for Dissolving Hamdok Gov’t

Chairman of the Sovereignty Council of Sudan Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (right) and Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok (left), AFP
Chairman of the Sovereignty Council of Sudan Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (right) and Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok (left), AFP

Chairman of the Sovereignty Council of Sudan Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has waged a new escalatory campaign against civilians in the political partnership ruling the North African state through its transition period.

Burhan rejected the idea of continuing cooperation with civilians under what he labeled as the “old” partnership framework. Openly calling for dissolving the government headed by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, Burhan underlined the need for assembling a new cabinet that enjoys broad participation and ensures resolving the current political deadlock and overcoming the legislative crisis in the country.

After a few days of relative calm between civil and military ruling authorities in Sudan, aggressive tones returned to the scene as the military disregarded Hamdok’s efforts to get the country out of the impasse it had been experiencing since the failed coup attempt last month.

The foiled insurgency had resulted in an “undeclared freeze” of mechanisms in the partnership between the two ruling authorities.

According to Asharq news channel, Burhan told soldiers at Khartoum’s Bahri Military District that any political solution for Sudan needs to first start with “dissolving the current government and expanding the overall political base of the parties participating in the transition government.”

Burhan also called for the formation of a legislative council that represents all the people, “except for the National Congress,” which was the ruling party under the former regime of Omar al-Bashir.

Speaking on Monday, in front of officers and soldiers and in the presence of a number of army commanders, Burhan said that the armed forces would protect the transitional period until free and fair elections are reached in which the Sudanese people choose who governs them.

Sudan has been experiencing a political crisis between the civilian and military partners of the transitional phase. This crisis was triggered by a failed coup attempt organized by officers in the armed forces on September 21.



Houthis in Yemen Strip their Head of Govt of his Powers

The Houthis prevented Ahmed al-Rahwi from naming the head of his office. (Houthi media)
The Houthis prevented Ahmed al-Rahwi from naming the head of his office. (Houthi media)
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Houthis in Yemen Strip their Head of Govt of his Powers

The Houthis prevented Ahmed al-Rahwi from naming the head of his office. (Houthi media)
The Houthis prevented Ahmed al-Rahwi from naming the head of his office. (Houthi media)

The Iran-backed Houthi militias have prevented their so-called prime minister, Ahmed al-Rahwi, from naming the head of his office.

The Houthis have instead forced him to appoint a person of their choosing against his wishes, revealed informed sources in the Houthi-held capital Sanaa.

The Houthis are attempting to strip al-Rahwi, who was named as head of the militias’ new government, of his powers, making his appointment simply a cover for imposing their agenda and favoring Houthis who are descended of the line of their leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi.

The sources revealed that al-Rahwi had headed to the government headquarters with Rabih al-Mehdi, the director of the office of his predecessor. Mehdi hails from the Abyan province that is held by the legitimate government.

Al-Rahwi was seeking to keep al-Mehdi in his post. However, a leading Houthi member, Mohammed Qassem al-Kabisi, who used to occupy the position of government secretary, barred him from making the appointment.

Kabisi even prevented al-Mehdi from entering his office, resulting in an argument with al-Rahwi.

Kabisi informed al-Rahwi that he had no authority in naming the head of his office, saying that he does instead.

Al-Rahwi turned to the Houthis’ so-called ruling high political council to resolve the dispute and was informed that he should accept Kabisi as head of his office despite his objection.

A decree was issued days later naming Kabisi to the post.

He will effectively hold absolute power in government, while al-Rahwi will simply play a figurative role and only be needed to approve decisions and procedures taken by the Houthi leadership, joining other ministers who have no real duties.

The Houthis have formed a new government that will follow in the footsteps of its predecessor in keeping actual power to the militias themselves.

The new lineup includes a pro-Houthi figure, with no diplomatic background or experience, who was named foreign minister, replacing leading General People's Congress member Hisham Sharaf.

The appointment only fueled claims that the Houthis were seeking to eliminate their partners from rule. Al-Rahwi himself had no say in the lineup.

The Houthis announced the formation of their government on August 12. It met on August 17 to discuss its program, referred it to parliament the same day and by the next morning, an announcement was made that it was approved with no amendments or objections.

The incident with al-Rahwi has fueled speculation that the coming period will witness more struggles for power among the Houthis and their partners, whom they are trying to keep out of rule.

Observers noted that Kabisi is the son of a top Houthi leader. Qassem al-Kabisi is one of the founders of the group and is close to their leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi.

The senior Houthi officials believe they have the right to represent the Houthis in rule since they are its founders and oldest members.