Skip to main content

Sudan replaces finance, foreign and energy ministers in reshuffle after protests

Removal of Ibrahim Badawi, who was tasked with steering country's fragile economy, comes as a shock
Civilians walk past graffiti reading in Arabic: "Freedom, Peace, Justice and Civilian" in the Burri district of Khartoum (Reuters)

Sudan's prime minister replaced the country's energy, finance, foreign and health ministers as part of a cabinet reshuffle, the government announced on Thursday. 

Three other senior cabinet members were removed from their posts. 

Plans for a cabinet reshuffle had been in the works for some time, according to observers. Many were surprised by the decision to remove the country's finance minister, Ibrahim Badawi. 

Badawi played a central role in liaising with foreign partners and steering Sudan's fragile economy following the removal of former President Omar al-Bashir last year.  

Abuses in Sudan's Darfur spur mass protest and calls for Bashir's conviction
Read More »

The government said Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok dismissed the health minister and accepted the resignation of other ministers. 

Hamdok leads a government of technocrats as part of a 39-month power-sharing agreement between civilian groups and the military that emerged after Bashir was toppled by a protest movement. 

Badawi's replacement will be Heba Ahmed Ali, a senior finance ministry official, the government said. 

This reshuffle comes after more than a week of street protests demanding faster reforms from the transitional government. 

Before the protests, Hamdok vowed to introduce a series of reforms. Earlier this week, he fired Sudan's police chief, who was accused of being close to Bashir's government. 

Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.