DUBAI, May 19 — Sudan’s military leader, General Abdel Fattah Burhan, has appointed Kamil Idris as prime minister of the army-led government, marking the first time a premier has been named since the 2021 military coup that toppled the civilian administration.
Idris, a former United Nations official and onetime presidential candidate, was announced as prime minister on Monday. His appointment comes at a time when Sudan remains deeply embroiled in a violent conflict between the national army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The extent of Idris’ authority remains uncertain, especially as the military struggles to regain full control amid intensified RSF attacks, including recent drone strikes on the strategic city of Port Sudan.
Idris takes office just weeks after Burhan named diplomat Dafallah al-Haj Ali as acting prime minister—a move that appeared symbolic, as it never materialized into a functioning government.
Burhan also made additional appointments on Monday, reinstating Salma Abdel Jabbar Almubarak and naming Nowara Abo Mohamed Mohamed Tahir to the ruling Sovereign Council, Sudan’s top governing body under military control.
The army had previously indicated plans to install a civilian-led government following its claimed takeover of Khartoum from RSF forces in late March. However, no comprehensive civilian transition has followed.
Sudan descended into war in April 2023 after a power-sharing breakdown between the army and the RSF, who had jointly orchestrated the 2021 coup that interrupted Sudan’s fragile path to democratic governance after the fall of long-time ruler Omar al-Bashir.
