Thu 22 August 2019:
Sudan completed the formation of an 11-member sovereign council, headed by General Abdel Fattah al Burhan, that will run the country for a three-year transitional period until elections.
Sudan took further steps in its transition towards civilian rule Wednesday with the swearing-in of a new sovereign council, to be followed by the appointment of a prime minister.
The body replaces the Transitional Military Council (TMC) that took charge after months of deadly street protests brought down longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir in April.
As a result of Wednesday’s move, it was the first time that Sudan was not under full military rule since Bashir’s coup d’etat in 1989.
Burhan sworn in as head of sovereign council
General Abdel Fattah al Burhan, head of Sudan’s now-defunct military council, was sworn in as head of the newly-formed Sovereign Council in front of the head of the country’s judiciary.
Burhan was dressed in military uniform at the swearing-in ceremony held at the presidential palace in Khartoum.
Hamdok, an economist who has served in international institutions, was nominated by Sudan’s main opposition alliance which negotiated for months with the Transitional Military Council (TMC) to reach the agreement that led to the Sovereign Council’s establishment.
The council replaces the TMC that Burhan headed, which had ruled Sudan since the overthrow of long-time president Omar al Bashir in April.
It is now the highest authority in the country but largely delegates executive powers to the cabinet of ministers.
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