Representatives of Sudan’s Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) handed Sunday Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok its list of candidates for the new cabinet.
Meanwhile, differences are still delaying the submission of candidates of the National Umma Party and other parties to the peace process in the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) to the Council of Transition Partners (CTP).
The National Umma Party, which was given the portfolios of foreign affairs, agriculture, oil and religious affairs, has been witnessing sharp internal differences, preventing it from naming its candidates, an informed source told Asharq Al-Awsat.
The source pointed out that another reason for the delay is that a prominent party leader has nominated himself as member in the Transitional Sovereign Council, refusing to withdraw his decision.
The CTP had announced it will form the cabinet on Feb. 4 and complete the transitional sovereign council.
It held on Sunday a meeting to discuss the new government’s agenda based on a draft submitted by the FFC.
Sources revealed that the FFC has re-nominated Justice Minister Nasredeen Abdulbari and Irrigation Minister Yasser Abbas to their posts.
Among the most prominent candidates in the new cabinet are the Umma’s Mariam Sadiq al-Mahdi for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ibrahim al-Sheikh for the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and Hamza Baloul for the Ministry of Culture and Information.
One of the SRF’s alliance members expressed its rejection of the current way the government was being formed, suggesting that early elections be held.
Proceeding with the partisan power-sharing approach in forming the government will affect its performance, leader in the SRF Eltom Hajo told a press conference.
The formation of the cabinet is in line with the Juba Peace Agreement that was signed between the government and several armed groups affiliated with the SRF in October.
Under the agreement, armed movements will be granted 25 percent representation in the cabinet, the defense and interior portfolios will be headed by military figures, 17 seats were allotted to the FFC, and three seats to the Transitional Sovereign Council. The Transitional Legislative Council was granted 75 percent representation.
The new cabinet is therefore expected to include 26 ministries instead of 20, including seven portfolios to the SRF, which is divided into two alliances.
