The Government of Hope .. A book that Sudanese have not read – the face of truth – ✍️ Ibrahim Shaqlawi
In a political scene which is always stuck in memory of the Sudanese, Dr. Kamel Idris presented himself, after having produced the department as Prime Minister, in three languages, carrying in his hands a huge book which he described as “a full plan to manage the transition phase”, and was succeeded by a second book which deals with implementation mechanisms. The moment seemed to mark a new step, based on planning, vision, rationality, governance and institutional reference.
However, more than two months have passed since this scene, and the book is still closed; It has not been published for the public, or for the discussion, and was not approved as a political or administrative reference for government plans. It was not just read, even by the Sudanese who were promised that it would be a roadmap towards stability.
Here, one of the most important aspects of confusion is obvious in the “government of hope”: the absence of a strategy announced in public space, and its limitation in the circle of executive elites, at a time when the country enters the stage of the plan 2026 and its new budget, which is supposed to form a base for a new social contract which approaches the challenges of the transition.
Manage a transition phase of this complexity without real participation of public opinion which reflects a conceptual defect difficult to miss the Prime Minister; It is not possible for a government to implicitly say a popular mandate based on an unexpected level, and to be managed by tools that people do not see and do not participate in its evaluation.
The plan which is not exposed to the discussion cannot be the subject of the agreement, and the discourse which is not based on transparency quickly turns into a political burden which can hinder the climb instead of pushing it.
This ambiguity has exceeded the limits of the absent plan, to include controversial executive decisions, in particular the integration of the Ministry of Irrigation with the Ministry of Agriculture, with a clear negligence of the aspect of water resources. A decision was greeted by wide criticism from specialists as a direct threat to national water security, in a country whose economic, environmental and political fate is linked to a complex regional water system, in addition to the Renaissance dam and the Nile Basin Commission.
As for external relations, the scene is no less confused; The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is still without minister, although it is the authority concerned to direct the efforts of Sudan to restore its regional and international situation, most of which is its frozen membership in the African Union.
The Prime Minister recently denied by occupying the post himself, stressing that “the Ministry of Foreign Affairs needs complete devotion”, but he did not explain the reason for the lack of appointment, although the Minister of State appointed to this position was previously announced as Minister before Idris was responsible for training the government.
The same scheme is repeated in the case of the appointment of Dr Ahmed Al -Tijani as Minister of Breeding, because the appointment has aroused generalized controversy due to the pregnant minister appointed for Emirates citizenship. In Cairo, Idris announced the withdrawal of the mission without clarifying the reason for the appointment, nor how this information missed the government’s selection team.
It is worse than retirement was justified by the existence of the “fifth column” within state institutions, and this is a description that places Idris himself before his responsibilities, because she opens the door to conspiracy theory more than provide objective responses.
In this context, the Government of Hope does not seem to be able to complete its ministerial training or to hold an official meeting of the Council of Ministers in its entirety. About three months have passed since government training, and the main files are still pending: no plan is published, no Minister of Foreign Affairs, no declared vision of reconstruction – despite the promises to allocate hundreds of billions – and no concrete measure to activate what Idris described as the “Sudanese Marshall” project.
Even the initiatives announced, such as “Special Unity for Youth” and the “Social Peace Council”, have not been transformed into clear or clear policies. In addition, the new ministries have not published a publication of tasks and specializations, and it is reported that the Prime Minister announced that this rule will be applied to everyone?
On the other hand, certain positive signals are recorded with the government, such as the assertion of Idris of the return of the government to Khartoum in October, progressing in the file of the return of basic services and coordination with Egypt in problems of water education, health and safety, in addition to improving the security situation in certain states. However, these gains will remain limited unless they are built on an institutional basis and a clear plan.
According to the face of the truth, the greatest challenge for the government of hope remains the transformation of the plans into a tangible reality and the translation of promises into measurable and responsible actions. Confidence in the Prime Minister’s abilities – whatever its scientific position and international expertise – do not sing on transparency and common vision. Sudanese do not interact with those who raise a theoretical project, but rather with those who share their implementation and lead them with a vigilant will for change. And if Dr. Kamel Idris does not leave his project perceptions of perceptions in the field of executive and political action, then his government will remain pregnant with hope, but he is unable to give birth.
You are fine and well.
Saturday August 9, 2025 ad shglawi55@gmail.com
