New Ministers of Defense and Interior: A Closer Look

Sudan Events – Agencies
Prime Minister Kamil Idris has issued a decision appointing Lieutenant General Hassan Dawood Kabroun as Minister of Defense and Lieutenant General (Police) Babiker Samra Mustafa as Minister of Interior—marking the first appointments in the “Government of Hope.”
According to the amended Constitutional Charter, the authority to appoint ministers for these two ministries falls to the military component.
So, who are the two new ministers overseeing the country’s security portfolios?
Hero of the “Battle of Dignity”
The military component nominated the Director of the Financial Administration of the Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Hassan Dawood, for the position of Minister of Defense. Dawood is considered one of the heroes of the “Battle of Dignity,” and among the few—by God’s grace—who ensured the General Command’s resilience for two full years under siege.
According to his biography, Lt. Gen. Accountant Hassan Dawood Kabroun was born in Dilling, South Kordofan, in 1962. He is the father of First Lieutenant Imad Hassan (Class 64), who is currently on the front lines in the ongoing battle.
Promotion and Background
Dawood rose through the ranks of the Armed Forces and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General on May 25, 2022. He also served as Director of the Military’s Financial Administration. In 2021, General al-Burhan appointed him head of the committee reviewing the activities of Zadna Company.
Battle of Dignity
On the morning of April 15, 2023, when war broke out, Lt. Gen. Dawood was present at the General Command and remained under siege there for two years. Throughout that period, he was one of the officers who successfully defended the headquarters from falling into the hands of Hemedti’s militia.
Dawood appeared in several videos during the siege, rallying his troops and defending the army’s stronghold. One famous quote from him in the first week of the war remains etched in Sudanese memory:
“Either we raise the Sudanese flag high, or we are carried on others’ shoulders to our final resting place.”
He fought alongside his soldiers fiercely and fearlessly, earning credit—along with other officers—for the General Command’s two-year stand.
Dawood is well-liked among his troops and the Mujahideen, and “Al-Tabiya” observed a wave of positive reactions from members of the Al-Bara bin Malik Brigades when news of his appointment broke. They praised his courage, sharp instincts, and respectful manner with others, regardless of his senior rank.
Significance of His Appointment
The appointment of a Battle of Dignity hero as Defense Minister suggests, according to analysts, the military’s intent to pursue a decisive victory on the battlefield.
Appointing Dawood specifically also signals General al-Burhan’s desire to enhance the role of the Ministry of Defense, which had been somewhat removed from the war’s core operations.
Beyond his integrity—which earned him the role of overseeing the military’s finances—Dawood is known for his energy, positivity, and proactive nature, qualities expected to reinvigorate the ministry and strengthen its role in the ongoing conflict.
A Policeman with Administrative Experience
The new Interior Minister, Lieutenant General (Police) Babiker Samra Mustafa, comes from an administrative background within the police force. His last position before retirement in 2018 was Head of the Police’s Administrative and Planning Affairs Department.
Born in Jebeit, Red Sea State, in 1957, Samra earned a higher diploma from the Police College at Al-Ribat University. He served in the Red Sea Police and Ports Authority before moving to internal security between 1986 and 1989. He later worked in security police and North Darfur State Police.
He held leadership roles in various departments, including the Passport and Immigration Administration, General Criminal Investigations, General Inspection, and ultimately as Head of Administrative and Planning Affairs.
He has participated in conferences both inside and outside Sudan, including Interpol events in Italy and the Seychelles, and served as a coordinating committee member for Interpol (Italy) and AFRIPOL (Kenya).
Known for his strict work ethic, boldness in upholding justice, and personal involvement in the implementation of his decisions, Samra is expected to be a valuable addition to the Ministry of Interior. His appointment is seen as a significant step toward strengthening internal security and granting the police a greater role during the coming phase.
However, experts warn of serious challenges ahead, including growing lawlessness and widespread weapons proliferation, both of which are fueling an increase in crime.
Source: Asda Sudan News