Overlooking Al-Ayser as Minister of Information Is a Grave Mistake

By Dr. Yasser Mahjoub Al-Hussein

In the corridors of Sudanese politics, as the country continues to grope its way through the rubble and smoke, decisions and leaks emerge from time to time—often carrying more despair than hope. Among the latest reports is the potential decision not to reappoint Mr. Khalid Al-Ayser as Minister of Information, despite his accomplishments in just a few short months. It’s as if the national memory has been struck by a bout of amnesia—or momentary blindness.

Al-Ayser restored the ministry’s stature—not through slogans or empty speeches, but through professional media action that placed the institution at the heart of the battle, not on its sidelines. In times of war, media is not a luxury or ornamental ministry—it is a critical front in the conflict. Al-Ayser was one of the few who realized that Sudan’s battle against the Rapid Support Forces militia is fought not only on the battlefield, but also in the public consciousness, in the state’s narrative, and in the contest over truth amid a flood of disinformation.

From day one, he dusted off a lethargic media apparatus that had come to resemble a stagnant archive more than a vital weapon. He opened windows to the world, restored professionalism, and amplified Sudan’s free voice amid the cacophony of regional and international noise. In short, Khalid Al-Ayser offered a model of a wartime Minister of Information—not a bureaucratic functionary.

If the rumors are true, and he is to be removed from his post and reassigned elsewhere—regardless of the symbolism or prestige of the new role—this would not constitute a promotion, but rather a sidelining of a man who proved that media can be a tool of construction, not a wrecking ball; a platform of sovereignty, not a mouthpiece of confusion.

This man cannot be reduced to a title or confined to a consultancy office. His effective charisma cannot be locked behind doors—it drives action and influence. And if someone else is chosen for the role, who can guarantee the continuity of the spirit Al-Ayser breathed into the veins of a media apparatus that had long suffered from stagnation and inertia?

Political consultations should not drown in a puddle of water. The equation is simple: the right person in the right place. And Khalid Al-Ayser—despite his short tenure—has presented sufficient evidence and proof of why he belongs precisely in this post. His absence now, at such a critical time, would not merely be a personal loss for him—it would be a national loss for a media landscape standing at the edge of truth in the face of an existential war.

Keeping Al-Ayser as Minister of Information is not a political luxury—it is a national necessity. This is no time for experimentation, nor is the moment ripe for appeasement. The Sudanese people will not accept a return to the pre-awakening state of their media.

Let competence be the compass—not political whims or temporary balances. Media is a frontline—and Khalid Al-Ayser was its most capable commander.