Kamil Idris was officially sworn in as Sudan’s new Prime Minister over the week-end, marking a significant development in the country’s prolonged political transition. The ceremony, held in Port Sudan, was overseen by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of the ruling Transitional Sovereign Council.
Following the swearing-in, Idris met with council members to deliberate on urgent national priorities, including economic stabilization, safeguarding civilian lives, and restoring law and order across conflict-ridden regions.
The appointment of Idris—an international legal scholar and former Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization—was formalized by a constitutional decree on 19 May. His selection has drawn endorsement from key international bodies, including the United Nations, the African Union Commission, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), signaling cautious optimism for Sudan’s political realignment. The prime ministerial role had remained vacant since Abdalla Hamdok’s resignation in early 2022, a fallout from the October 2021 military coup that derailed the nation’s power-sharing roadmap.
Yet, Idris assumes office at a time of deepening national crisis. Sudan continues to reel from a brutal conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which erupted in April 2023. The war has exacted a devastating human toll—tens of thousands killed and millions displaced—exacerbating an already fragile humanitarian situation. As Idris takes the helm, expectations are high that his leadership might steer the nation towards peace, though the path ahead remains perilous.