Sudan cabinet reshuffled

The energy ministry will now be headed by al-Zubeir Ahmed al-Hassan, the former finance minister.

 

The energy and finance positions are important in Sudan due to the more than 500,000 barrels of oil the country produces per day.

 

A Sudanese analyst who preferred not to be named said the reshuffle was just “pushing papers”.

 

“The key people are still in key positions.”

 

But Mardi’s removal was a step forward to improve Sudan’s image abroad, he said.

 

Ibrahim Ahmed Omer was appointed minister for science and technology.

A senior figure in President Omar Hassan al-Bashir’s National Congress Party, Omer came out of retirement to advise Bashir on media matters.

 

Kassala Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamad, a former governor, was made minister of interior. He replaces al-Zubayr Bashir Taha, who was moved to the agriculture and forestry portfolio.