SUDAN-POLITICS/CABINET Sudan's new ministers take oath of office in front of president

Record ID: 150321

  • Title: SUDAN-POLITICS/CABINET Sudan's new ministers take oath of office in front of president
  • Date: 7th June 2015
  • Summary: KHARTOUM, SUDAN (JUNE 7, 2015) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** SUDAN REPUBLICAN PALACE REPUBLICAN GUARDS IN FRONT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE GATE PRESIDENT AL-BASHIR IN CORRIDORS OF THE REPUBLICAN PALACE PRESIDENTIAL DEPUTIES SWEARING IN BEFORE AL-BASHIR PRESIDENTIAL ASSISTANTS SWEARING IN BEFORE AL-BASHIR PRESIDENTIAL ASSISTANTS PLACING THEIR HANDS ON
  • Embargoed: 22nd June 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Sudan
  • Country: Sudan
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVACBNL9F3KREW12V3HWBC7MFMQX
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Days after the start of his new presidential term, Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir announced a new government with changes to the defence, foreign affairs and oil portfolios, who were later sworn in Sunday (June 7) to take up their new postings.
    Mohamed Zayed takes over the oil ministry, while Ibrahim Ghandour becomes Sudan's top diplomat. Lieutenant-General Mostafa Osman Abeed was appointed acting defence minister.
    The reshuffle could mark a shift for Sudan, which has long laboured 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.
    The newly appointed ministers took oath of office at the presidential palace where Bashir and his trusted lieutenants witnessed the occasion.
    Sudan Information Minister Dr. Ahmed Bilal said more than 20 political parties participated in the federal and state levels and the cabinet is the biggest ever in Sudan's history.
    "The new government is considered the biggest in Sudan's history as there are more than 20 political parties participating in it in federal and state levels," said Sudan Information Minister Dr. Ahmed Bilal.
    Opposition figures have said Bashir's continued rule has exacerbated Sudan's isolation from global financial and political institutions.
    Bashir and his ruling party won 94 percent of the vote in a national election in April, which was the first since Sudan saw its south secede in 2011 but was boycotted by most of the opposition.
    Sudan's economy has suffered since the secession of South Sudan in 2011, taking with it three-quarters of the country's oil output, the main source of foreign currency used to support the Sudanese pound and to pay for food and other imports.
    "The upcoming stage will concentrate on the living standards of the people besides more freedoms. We believe that this aspect is one of the top priorities in the upcoming stage," Dr. Bilal added.
    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.
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