A Reflection on Dr. Kamil Idris’s Latest Address
By Dr. Mayada Sware Al-Dahab
The latest address delivered by Dr. Kamal Idris, the Transitional Prime Minister, instilled hope in the hearts of Sudanese people. It was a comprehensive and well-grounded speech that acknowledged the requirements of the current phase, addressed the challenges of the present situation, and looked optimistically toward the future.
The speech included a complete and comprehensive plan and a strategic vision that encompassed standards, mechanisms, and measurement tools. It addressed the people’s concerns, answered the questions on everyone’s minds, expressed the citizens’ aspirations, dispelled doubts, restored trust, and bridged the gap between the people and the state leadership. It also aimed to involve citizens in selecting their representatives in state institutions based on clear criteria and transparent, fair mechanisms.
The Prime Minister’s actions and steps indicate an independent decision-making process, a readiness to confront challenges, and an effort to address the obstacles in restructuring the executive branch according to the proposed parameters. He clearly outlined the selection criteria, steering away from regionalism and partisan quotas that often ignore competence.
The greatest challenge he faces is abandoning regionalism and embracing a nationalistic approach, especially at a time when the state has regressed and regional and tribal discourse has intensified.
The Prime Minister presented a comprehensive foundational vision. However, the current circumstances require an emergency plan with specific deadlines, followed by a foundational period prior to elections during which the state is rebuilt on new foundations.
The mechanism assigned with selecting ministers based on the set criteria lacked the necessary transparency and overlooked national consensus on the candidates. This contradicts the vision presented by the National Founding Platform, which I had the honor of launching over a year ago with a group of experts. In that vision, we proposed a selection mechanism consisting of a committee of agreed-upon experts and academics representing all national components to handle nominations.
The vision presented by the Prime Minister did not address the role of the legislative authority, represented by the Transitional Legislative Council, as a legislative and oversight body for the technocratic government. Nor did it touch on the role of political parties, which are expected to support the Government of Hope and engage in Sudanese-Sudanese dialogue to agree on the formation of the Legislative Council, participate in election preparations, and contribute to drafting the country’s permanent constitution.
The biggest challenge in the current situation and amid the country’s difficulties lies in the mechanism for selecting ministers and senior state officials. Implementing such a mechanism on the ground is difficult and requires significant effort, stable institutions, a highly conscious and nationally committed society, and a gradual process of appointing ministers and leadership positions. This gradualism may slow down the government’s effective momentum.
On another front, several challenges remain, most notably deeply rooted corruption, regionalism and tribalism, ongoing security issues amid the current war, the Juba Peace Agreement, post-war recovery and national healing, the economic crisis, restoring the state’s authority and sovereignty, repositioning Sudan regionally and internationally, and leveraging its natural and human resources to build a prosperous and stable state.
Source: Al-Muhaqiq website
