Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has announced a major cabinet reshuffle with Lieutenant General Bakri Hassan Saleh appointed as first vice president.
Bashir made the announcement early on Sunday, introducing at least five ministers from the younger generation of the ruling National Congress Party.
Saleh replaced Ali Taha who resigned on Saturday. Taha was the chief negotiator in Sudan’s Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005 that ended the civil war.
"[He] resigned to make space for the youth and there are no conflicts between us," Bashir said.
Last month, he announced that the government was planning a major cabinet reshuffle.
The Sudanese president held a meeting with the leaders of the National Congress Party to approve the cabinet reshuffle.
The second vice president, parliament speaker and his assistant have also been replaced.
Analysts say the cabinet reshuffle is aimed at calming down protesters, who took to the streets after the government cut fuel subsidies to deal with increasing economic worries.
Sudan lost billions of dollars in oil revenues after South Sudan gained independence two years ago, taking with it some 75 percent of crude production of the formerly united country.
Sudan has been plagued by running inflation and a weakening currency since then.
GJH/NN/AS
Post a Comment