Hope… Through Planning and Action!

By Dr. Muzammil Abu Al-Qasim

We will bypass the issue of sectoral appointments in the new government—or the Government of Hope, as Prime Minister Dr. Kamal Idris has named it—and move straight to its tasks, requirements, and the enormous challenges it faces. This is out of our sincere concern for its success, especially as we firmly believe that its success is not a choice but a necessity.

One of the recurring entry points for the failure of successive Sudanese governments is the lack of merit-based ministerial appointments. We are confident that Dr. Kamal is diligent in upholding this standard and will only appoint individuals of competence, integrity, and experience. Another certain route to failure is leaving ministers to work based on their own discretion—without programs, goals, or guidelines. They end up acting on personal judgment, sometimes succeeding and often failing. Anyone observing the state of our country after seven decades of independence will be convinced that our successive governments have been closer to failure than success. The situation speaks for itself.

Looking at the history of Sudanese governments since 1956, it’s clear that one of the most productive—despite its short duration—was the government led by General Ibrahim Abboud, may he rest in peace. In just six years, his administration achieved significant, even remarkable accomplishments across all sectors. Why did that happen?

During those six years, Sudan witnessed a major developmental boom. The Roseires and Khashm el-Girba dams were constructed; the railway was extended to Nyala in the west and Wau in the south (via Babanusa); steam engines on the railway were replaced with diesel locomotives; and sugar factories were built in El-Guneid, New Halfa, and Melut. Additionally, the cultivated area of the Gezira Scheme was expanded with the Managil extension (800,000 feddans), and large-scale mechanized farming projects were launched in Dali and Mazmum (500,000 feddans), as well as the Halfa agricultural project. Grain silos were also built in Gedaref.

Under Abboud’s rule, Sudan Airways (Sudanair) and Sudan Shipping Line (Sudanline) were established. The Central Bank of Sudan and other specialized banks were founded, and the national currency was issued. Furthermore, the Bari Thermal Station was built, electricity was generated from the Sennar Dam, and key infrastructure like the Shambat Bridge and the expansion of the White Nile Bridge were completed.

Those six years also saw the launch of Sudanese television broadcasting, the National Theatre, and other theatres across the country. Many factories were set up throughout Sudan, and youth centers were established in most cities to support and nurture young talent.

In terms of roads, Abboud’s government began construction of the Khartoum-Medani highway, reaching as far as Al-Hasahisa (later completed by President Nimeiri, may he rest in peace). Work also began on the Khartoum-Shendi road, reaching Al-Gaili and completed later under Al-Bashir’s government.

The takeaway here is that the multitude and variety of achievements under Abboud’s government were due to the implementation of a clear and structured development plan. A five-year development program was designed, and ministers were required to execute it, with their performance closely monitored.

We expect Dr. Kamal Idris to study this successful model and follow its path by drafting a well-defined plan to guide the entire government’s work—especially the ministries. The plan must specify what is required in terms of figures, timelines (months and days), and set clear performance indicators for each minister. If a minister slacks off or deviates from the plan, they should be warned—or replaced.

What has harmed our country most is appointing ministers and letting them work freely without a plan, program, supervision, or follow-up. Successive officials tend to ignore the efforts of their predecessors and start from scratch!

The Government of Hope will not succeed without hard work, preceded by solid planning and organization, accompanied by monitoring, auditing, guidance, and accountability. Dr. Kamal must define a clear roadmap for his government, and specific, time-bound programs for each minister. They must not be left to act on their own whims as those before them did—only to harvest regret and failure.

Our prayers go before our best wishes for Dr. Kamal and his government. We pledge to support him with sincere advice and constructive criticism—criticism that aims to highlight deficiencies without injustice, bias, or malicious intent. This is so that he may succeed, deliver, and achieve the goals for which he was chosen—at the most critical juncture in Sudan’s modern history.