Sudan’s al-Bashir Forms New Government

North Africa  |  06.14.10   By Randy Odaga

Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir on Monday formed a 35-member government two months after multi-party elections, according to an official decree distributed to the media.

Beshir handed the key foreign ministry to Ali Karti from his ruling National Congress Party while the strategic oil ministry went to Luwal Ashweil Deng, from the ex-rebel South Sudan People’s Liberation Movement.

The SPLM held the foreign ministry in the previous government which Beshir dissolved at the end of May following his re-election victory in April during which his party retained a majority of seats in parliament.

“President Omar Hassan al-Beshir has announced in a statement the nomination of ministers and ministers of state,” said the decree.

According to the text of the decree, the new government will have 35 cabinet ministers, compared to 31 in the previous line-up, as well as 42 ministers of state.

Karti, known to be a conservative Islamist, was a minister of state for foreign affairs in a previous administration and has also served in the past as minister of state for judicial affairs.

Deng, a member of the ex-rebel SPLM, served as a minister of state for financial affairs in the previous government.

Twenty-four ministers were chosen from Beshir’s National Congress Party while eight of the ministries went to SPLM members.

Three small parties each received a government ministry.

The ex-rebel SPLM joined the government after signing with the Khartoum government in 2005 a peace deal that ended a devastating civil war that lasted more than two decades.

The 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement ended two decades of war in Sudan by offering southern Sudan a measure of autonomy until the future of the country is determined in a referendum set for January 2011.

Sudan produces 500,000 barrels of oil per day and has reserves estimated at six billion barrels.

Most of it lies on the border between north and south and how to share the revenues has been a major source of tension in the run-up to the promised referendum on southern independence due in January.

Earlier this month Beshir warned of an “explosive” situation between north and south Sudan if the south chooses to break away in the referendum, but he also said: “We have no other choice but to work with the SPLM for the sake of the country’s unity.”

Beshir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in Darfur, was sworn in last month.

At his swearing in ceremony the Sudanese president said he was committed to holding the referendum on time.

“It is a commitment we will not renege on. We made a vow and we will adhere to it,” he said.

“We will accept, in good faith, the choice of the south, whatever the choice may be,” he said, but stressed he would work for unity

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