Sudan Bets on Civilian Rule, Appoints Former UN Official as Prime Minister

In a move signaling potential progress toward ending the Sudanese war, Sudan’s ruling Transitional Sovereignty Council on Monday announced the appointment of former United Nations official Kamil Idris as prime minister.

“The chairman of the sovereignty council issued a constitutional decree appointing Kamil El-Tayeb Idris Abdelhafiz as prime minister,” a statement from Sudan’s ruling Transitional Sovereignty Council headed by Army Chief Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Sudan’s de facto leader, said on Monday, naming Idris, a seasoned diplomat and legal scholar, for the role, who replaces veteran diplomat Dafallah al-Haj Ali, who was appointed by al-Burhan less than a month ago as acting premier.

Idris, 73, brings decades of international experience to the post, having served as director general of the UN’s World Intellectual Property Organization (1997–2008) and held key roles in Sudan’s Foreign Ministry and UN mission. Educated in international law and affairs, he previously challenged longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir as an independent candidate in Sudan’s 2010 presidential election. His selection has sparked cautious optimism, with the African Union praising the move as a “step toward inclusive governance” and urging dialogue to restore constitutional order. 

The Sovereignty Council also expanded its ranks, reappointing Salma Abdel Jabbar Almubarak and adding newcomer Nowara Abo Mohamed Mohamed Tahir, a rare inclusion of women in Sudan’s male-dominated power structures. The reshuffle unfolds against a backdrop of intensifying conflict between al-Burhan’s military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by rival Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. 

Since April 2023, the war has killed tens of thousands, displaced over 12 million, and ravaged infrastructure. The Sudanese army recently gained the upper hand by seizing control of the capital, Khartoum, though the RSF retains strongholds in Darfur and the south, launching relentless attacks on strategic sites like Port Sudan. 

Al-Burhan’s push to form an army-backed government clashes with Dagalo’s rival administration, established last month after the RSF chief signed a controversial charter with political allies in Nairobi. Meanwhile, international groups warn of catastrophic escalation, particularly in Darfur’s el-Fasher, a lifeline for humanitarian aid. 

As Idris assumes office, observers question whether his technocratic credentials can bridge divides in a nation fractured by war. The African Union expressed hope the appointment would “contribute meaningfully to restoring democracy,” but with trust in short supply and violence raging, Sudan’s path to peace remains fraught.