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Sudan's Opposition Alliance Chooses Prime Minister

Michael Atit

   Carol Van Dam contributed to this report.

   KHARTOUM, SUDAN -Sudan's Forces of Freedom and Change, the country's
   main opposition alliance, has nominated economist Mohammed
   AbdallaHamdokto serve as prime minister in the country's transitional
   government.

   Hamdok, whose nomination was announced Thursday night, is expected to
   be appointed prime minister by Sudan's sovereign council, which is
   expected to be sworn in Monday.
   Hamdokhas served as deputy executive secretary of the U.N. Economic
   Commission for Africa since 2011. For decades, he worked as a senior
   policy analyst and economist on governance issues, public sector
   reforms and regional integration.
   From 2003 to 2008,Hamdokworked at the International Institute for
   Democracy and Electoral Assistanceas regional director for Africa and
   the Middle East.

   Hurdles ahead
   Some Sudanese said that while they thoughtHamdokwas the right person
   for the job, he faces many challenges.
   Khartoum-based economist Abdallah Ramadi said given his
   credentials,Hamdokwas the right choice to lead Sudan for a transitional
   period that is to last a little more than three years.
   "He has in his hands now the responsibility of a collapsing economy.
   Shortages [are] everywhere. You find queues in bakeries, you find
   queues in gas stations, you find queues at transport stations and in
   banks, which is a shame," Ramadi told South Sudan in Focus.
   Ramadi said bad decisions by government leaders caused the economic
   collapse, not a shortage of natural resources.
   "Prices shot upin Sudan not for economic reasons but because of
   mismanagement of the economy, because of exaggerated government
   spending on politics and politicians, which led to high inflation,"
   Ramadi told VOA.
   Sudanese journalistShuhdiNadir called the choice ofHamdoka blessing for
   Sudan but warned that efforts to lift Sudan out of its economic crisis
   wouldn't be easy.

   "For the past 30 years Sudan has been spending much of its budget on
   war. Corruption has been spreading within government institutions.
   There is a lot that needs to be done to reform the civil service,"
   Nadir told South Sudan in Focus.

   Peace first
   IfHamdokcan restore peace in the conflict-affected regions of Darfur,
   South Kordofan and the Blue Nile area, Nadir said, he will have a good
   chance at achieving significant economic change in Sudan.
   Hamdokholds master of arts and doctoral degrees from the School of
   Economic Studies-University of Manchester, United Kingdom, and a
   bachelor of science degree from the University of Khartoum.

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