Sudan’s military leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, announced a cabinet reshuffle late Sunday, replacing four ministers, including those responsible for foreign affairs and media, amidst ongoing conflict with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The reshuffle comes as Sudan faces what the United Nations has described as the world’s worst displacement crisis, with millions uprooted, famine looming, and humanitarian aid urgently needed.
In an official post on social media, Sudan’s ruling Sovereignty Council confirmed that Burhan had approved new appointments for the ministries of foreign affairs, media, religious affairs, and trade.
Since the civil conflict erupted in April 2023, Burhan’s forces have clashed with the RSF, led by his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.
As violence intensifies in the al-Jazira region and North Darfur, the Sudanese government has been operating from the city of Port Sudan, which remains one of the few areas relatively untouched by the violence.
Ambassador Ali Youssef al-Sharif, a retired diplomat and former ambassador to China and South Africa, has been appointed as the new foreign minister, succeeding Hussein Awad Ali, who held the role for the past seven months.
Khalid Ali Aleisir, a journalist based in London, has been named the new minister of culture and media.
Additionally, Omar Banfir was appointed to the trade ministry, and Omar Bakhit took on the role of minister of religious affairs.
The reshuffle follows increasing attacks on civilians by RSF forces in al-Jazira, triggered by reports of an RSF commander defecting to the Sudanese army.
According to the UN, recent violence has displaced around 120,000 people from al-Jazira alone, while AFP reports that at least 200 people were killed in the region last month.
Sudan is now home to over 11 million internally displaced individuals, with an additional 3.1 million seeking refuge in neighboring countries, according to the International Organization for Migration.
AFP
