Sudan’s newly appointed Prime Minister, Kamil Idris, has dissolved the country’s caretaker government just one day after officially taking office, state media agency SUNA reported late Sunday. Idris’s swift move comes as Sudan remains mired in a brutal civil war that erupted in April 2023, when clashes between the national military and the powerful Rapid Support Forces (RSF) escalated into full-scale conflict. This marks the first time Sudan has had a civilian prime minister since a military coup toppled the transitional government in 2021.
In a national address following his swearing-in, Idris called on foreign governments allegedly supporting the RSF to immediately end what he termed “criminal operations” against the Sudanese people. He pledged to serve “with utmost sincerity and dedication,” but did not indicate when a new government would be formed.
War Toll and Humanitarian Crisis
The conflict has plunged Sudan into one of the world’s worst humanitarian catastrophes. According to UN agencies and human rights groups:
- More than 24,000 people have reportedly been killed.
- Over 14 million have been displaced within Sudan and across borders.
- Atrocities including mass rape and ethnically driven killings have been widely documented, particularly in Darfur, with many acts classified as war crimes and crimes against humanity.
- Famine has been officially declared in at least five regions, with Darfur being the epicenter of acute food insecurity.
International actors continue to express concern over the worsening situation, as relief efforts remain hampered by insecurity and obstruction from both warring factions.
Prime Minister Idris’s decision to dissolve the current government is seen as an attempt to assert civilian leadership and possibly pave the way for peace talks or international mediation, although skepticism remains high given the entrenched power of Sudan’s military and RSF leaders.
