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Asharq Al-Awsat
5 days ago
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
The Invisible Enemy in the Sudan War
Sudan's new Prime Minister, Dr. Kamel Idris, faces formidable challenges as he navigates the most complex and critical moment in the country's history. Sudan has been ravaged by a devastating war, its economy has been enfeebled, its infrastructure is crumbling, its institutions are decaying, and its resilient population is suffering. In his inaugural address after being sworn in, Prime Minister Idris acknowledged the weight of the responsibility on his shoulders and promised to realize the vision that he laid out in the two books and presented publicly on camera. While the government has a long agenda. Its gravest challenges may not be its visible tasks, though they are many. An 'invisible enemy' that has been hollowing out the state from within for years: is corruption. Although corruption has long weighed on this wounded nation, it has acquired new and more dangerous dimensions during the war. Indeed, in times of conflict, state institutions are weakened, effective oversight disappears, and individuals exploit dire security and economic conditions to abuse their power and loot both public and private resources. Since the war began, numerous accounts of rampant corruption have surfaced everywhere: from humanitarian aid and government appointments to public funds and even the moral fabric of society. These are not merely rumors. Officials have publicly addressed the issue. Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has criticized fraud in the civil service and nepotism, while Vice President of the Sovereignty Council Malik Agar acknowledged that corruption had been deeply entrenched. The reality is that corruption in Sudan is no longer a problem of isolated incidents or the product of individual misconduct; it has become a 'way of life.' Not only does it harm the economy, it also presents an existential threat to the state. That is why Sudan today needs to wage a serious and relentless battle against corruption, going beyond statement and rhetoric to deliver results through structural reforms of state institutions. Fighting corruption under these conditions is not just a demand of the masses or institutional idealism; it is a national imperative- a requisite for reform, reconstruction, attracting investment, and rebuilding trust between the government and its citizens. Clear political determination is not enough. Sudan needs a fully-fledged campaign armed with effective tools and actionable plans. Where Do We Begin? The government of Dr. Kamel Idris can take different approaches to open horizons in the fight against corruption. To succeed, it will need the full backing of all other state actors. Among the steps the state can take are: Establishing an independent national anti-corruption commission with real authority. Creating a specialized court for corruption-related crimes that combines efficiency with speed, ensures that cases are not trapped into bureaucratic limbo. Passing a strict financial disclosure and asset declaration law that applies to senior officials and all public sector employees. Expanding the digitization of public services to reduce direct contact and curb bribery, building a single online portal for customs, taxation, procurement, licensing, and more. Launching a nationwide media campaign under the banner of 'Fighting Corruption.' It must raise compelling and relatable slogans that speak directly to the public and are repeated enough times to become catchphrases that resonate even in the halls of government. In parallel with efforts to raise awareness, protecting journalists is essential for allowing them to expose corruption through investigative reporting. A whistleblower protection system must also be established. Reform will remain incomplete before a purge in sensitive posts in the judiciary, police, customs, taxation, ports, and border control. Civil society must also be empowered so that it can contribute to public oversight and help ensure transparency and accountability. There are many successful examples of countries that have tackled corruption through their determination and bold reforms, and they demonstrate that change is possible when there is political will. Take Rwanda, for instance: following the genocide of the 1990s, it was a failed state crippled by violence and corruption. However, it chose the path of reform and reconstruction, adopting a zero-tolerance policy on corruption. It strengthened the Office of the Auditor General, created a dedicated anti-corruption body and specialized courts, and prosecuted high-profile offenders. Another example is Singapore, which had been a poor country with limited resources and rampant corruption until the 1960s. It embarked on a path toward reform and revival, enforcing robust oversight mechanisms and ensuring judicial independence, as well as passing strict anti-corruption laws. It also offered competitive salaries to civil servants and law enforcement officials (in the judiciary, police, customs, and tax agencies) to reduce the temptation of bribes, while simultaneously imposing strict systems of oversight, accountability, and prosecution. If Dr. Kamel Idris's government appeases the corrupt, it will only add to the frustration. However, if it governs like it is the country's "last chance" and receives the support of other officials, this government's tenure could become a turning point for Sudan. However, the battle will not be easy. It requires political courage, a moral revolution, and a conviction that corruption is not inevitable and that this a battle that must be won if Sudan is to recover and rise.
Asharq Al-Awsat
02-06-2025
- General
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Sudan's Prime Minister Vows to ‘Eliminate Rebellion'
Sudan's newly appointed Prime Minister, Kamel Idris, pledged to 'completely eliminate the rebellion and all forms of rebel militias, and safeguard Sudan's national security,' while announcing the dissolution of the current government. On Sunday, Idris informed ministers in a meeting of the government's dissolution and assigned the secretaries-general and deputy ministers to manage affairs until a new government is formed. He urged countries supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to stop, calling for what he termed a 'comprehensive national healing campaign.' He said he would adopt an inclusive intra-Sudanese dialogue that excludes no one and rejects regionalism and racism 'after eliminating the rebellion.' In his first address to the Sudanese people following his swearing-in on Saturday, Idris said his priorities begin with national security, restoring the state's prestige, completely ending the ongoing rebellion, and dismantling the phenomenon of rebel militias. He promised to establish a rule of law that includes the prosecution, judiciary, constitutional court, maintaining security, and managing the transitional period and the executive apparatus efficiently and successfully to achieve security and stability in the country. Idris added that he would work on rebuilding Sudan's foreign relations, especially with neighboring countries and the wider Arab and African regions, as well as with all countries globally. The Sovereignty Council chairman and army chief, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, issued a decree on May 19 appointing Idris as prime minister, filling a position left vacant since the resignation of former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. Hamdok resigned following the October 25, 2021 coup led by Burhan and his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as 'Hemedti,' against the civilian government that was formed after the popular uprising which overthrew former President Omar al-Bashir in April 2019. This government was often referred to as the 'revolution government.' Idris, who took his oath on Saturday, previously served as Director-General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and Secretary-General of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants. He also ran against former President Omar al-Bashir in the 2010 presidential elections, receiving around 77,000 votes out of over 10 million voters. Meanwhile, on Sunday, three drones struck locations affiliated with the Rapid Support Forces in western Sudan, according to eyewitnesses. Residents reported that the airstrikes hit the center of Nyala, the capital of South Darfur state, targeting a hotel, an RSF medical unit, and RSF positions on the city's eastern outskirts.
New York Times
22-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
U.S. to Impose Sanctions on Sudan Over Use of Chemical Weapons
The United States intends to impose new sanctions on Sudan's military-led government after determining that it used chemical weapons last year, the State Department said on Thursday. In a brief statement announcing the decision, the State Department offered little detail about where or how the weapons had been used, saying only that it had notified Congress of a breach of the Chemical Weapons Convention, the international treaty that outlaws the production or use of chemical weapons. But in January, The New York Times reported that Sudan's military had used chemical weapons at least twice against the Rapid Support Forces, or R.S.F., the powerful paramilitary group it is fighting for control of the country. Then, senior U.S. officials told The Times that the military had used chlorine gas against R.S.F. troops in remote areas over the preceding months. They feared the weapons might be used in the capital, Khartoum, which at the time was divided between the warring sides. The sanctions are expected to take effect June 6. Sudan's military-led government did not immediately respond to the announcement of the American sanctions, although it has vociferously denied using chemical weapons in the past. Last week, the military appointed a former United Nations official, Kamel Idris, as prime minister. Many other Sudanese expressed skepticism about the American determination, largely because there had been no local news reports of chemical weapons use on the battlefield. Addressing that discrepancy, American officials said the weapons use had been small in scale, had taken place in remote areas and had not been very effective. The chemical weapons accusation documents yet another line crossed in a catastrophic civil war that has seen countless atrocities. Since fighting started in April 2023, the conflict in Sudan has killed tens of thousands of people, forced 13 million people from their homes and led to widespread famine. Both sides have been accused of war crimes, although only the R.S.F. has been accused of genocide by the United States, which in January imposed sanctions on the group's leader, Lt. Gen. Mohamed Hamdan. A week later, the Biden administration also imposed sanctions on Sudan's army chief, Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. At the time, American officials said privately that General al-Burhan had authorized the use of chemical weapons. But they did not publicly disclose the use of chemical weapons until this week. Under the new round of sanctions, the United States will restrict exports to Sudan and its access to U.S. government loans, the State Department said. The statement called on Sudan to stop using chemical weapons and said the United States was committed to holding 'to account those responsible for contributing to chemical weapons proliferation.'
