Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir on Wednesday appointed his first Vice President and long-time ally Hassan Saleh to the newly created post of Prime Minister.
“The party leadership meeting chaired by President Bashir approved the nomination of Hassan Saleh as Prime Minister,” said ruling National Congress Party Deputy Leader Ibrahim Mahmoud.
Saleh who is expected to be sworn in on Thursday will continue to hold the position of Vice President.
The retired army general is a former defense, interior and presidential affairs minister. He currently serves as first Vice President and National Congress Party deputy leader for executive affairs.
In January 2014, al-Bashir called on political parties and armed groups to engage in a national dialogue to discuss four issues, namely ending the civil war, allowing political freedoms, fighting poverty and revitalizing national identity.
Launched on 10 October 2015 for three months, the dialogue process was initially expected to wind up in January 2016 but it was delayed until October the same year.
The country’s lawmakers voted in December to reinstate the post of prime minister.