Sudan’s Bashir changes foreign, defense, oil ministers
The reshuffle could mark a shift for Sudan, which has long labored under a raft of U.N. and bilateral sanctions
Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir announced a new government with changes to the defense, foreign affairs and oil portfolios, state television said on Saturday, days after the start of his new presidential term.
Mohamed Zayed takes over the oil ministry, while Ibrahim Ghandour becomes Sudan’s top diplomat. Lieutenant-General Mostafa Osman Abeed was appointed acting defense minister, state television said.
The reshuffle could mark a shift for Sudan, which has long labored under a raft of U.N. and bilateral sanctions, including from the United States.
Bashir, 71, said this week his country was open to dialogue with Western nations, an unusually conciliatory message from a leader facing charges at the International Criminal Court that he masterminded genocide and other atrocities in his campaign to crush a revolt in the Darfur region. He denies those charges.
Opposition figures have said Bashir’s continued rule has exacerbated Sudan’s isolation from global financial and political institutions.
Bashir has kept a strong power base in the army and remains popular among many segments of the population He won 94 percent of the vote in a national election in April, the first since Sudan saw its south secede in 2011, but it was boycotted by most of the opposition. His ruling National Congress Party won 323 of 426 parliamentary seats.
Saturday’s reshuffle also saw most of the state governors change, but it kept in place the first vice president and the vice president.
Also Read
-
Two Russians abducted in Sudan’s Darfur freed: embassy
Two Russians kidnapped in Sudan’s Darfur in January have been freed by their captors, a spokesman for Russia’s embassy in Khartoum said Saturday Middle East -
Report: Sudan sent South Sudan rebels weapons, ammunition
Sudan has been supplying South Sudanese rebels with weapons and ammunition, a London-based research organization said Africa -
Sudan’s Bashir sworn in for new presidential term
Bashir took the oath at a parliamentary session in the capital Khartoum attended by regional African and Arab leaders Middle East -
French police clear migrant camp in Paris
More than 350 refugees, most of them from Sudan, but also from Eritrea, Somalia and Egypt, have been living in the makeshift camp World News -
Sudan seizes print runs of 10 newspapers in crackdown
Sudanese security forces seized the Monday print runs of 10 newspapers and suspended the publishing licenses of four of them Print -
South Sudan president warns sanctions will worsen war
South Sudan President Salva Kiir has warned that proposed international sanctions will only worsen the civil war Africa -
U.N. investigates attack on South Sudan peacekeeping site that killed 8
Targeting peacekeepers or humanitarian workers is considered a serious war crime Africa -
U.S. condemns worsening violence in South Sudan
The United States condemned intense fighting in war-wracked South Sudan, also warning against humanitarian violations. Africa -
Red Cross warns of looming food crisis in South Sudan
The Red Cross warned tens of thousands of people forced to flee violence in South Sudan could go hungry Africa -
Contractors at Sudan’s foreign ministry face espionage trial: report
Two contractors working for the Sudanese foreign ministry are facing espionage charges after Khartoum accused them of providing a U.S. intelligence ... Africa -
Dozens killed in tribal clashes in Sudan’s east Darfur: MP
Fighting broke out between the Rezeigat and Maaliya groups around the Abu Karinka area of East Darfur state Africa -
Sudan army says shot down reconnaissance drone, identity unknown
The target was destroyed and parts were strewn over the residential areas in Omdurman, part of greater Khartoum Africa
