Head of Sudan’s Now-defunct Military Council Sworn in as Head of New Sovereign Council

By Staff, Agencies

General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the outgoing head of Sudan’s military council, was sworn in as head of the newly-formed Sovereign Council in front of the head of the country’s judiciary.

The remaining 10 members of the Sovereign Council will be sworn in later on Wednesday. Prime Minister-nominee Abdalla Hamdok is also expected to be sworn in later in the day.

The body replaces the Transitional Military Council [TMC] that took charge after months of deadly street protests brought down longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir in April.

The first steps of the transition after the mass celebrations that marked the August 17 adoption of a transitional constitution proved difficult however.

The names of the joint civilian-military sovereign council's 11 members were eventually announced late Tuesday after differences within the opposition camp held up the process for two days.

Gen. Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan will be Sudan's head of state for the first 21 months of the 39-month transition period, until a civilian takes over for the remainder.

The council's 10 other members are expected to be sworn in two hours later and Abdalla Hamdok, who was chosen by the opposition last week to be prime minister, is also due to take office on Wednesday.

The sovereign council includes two women, including a member of Sudan's Christian minority, and it will oversee the formation of a government and a legislative body.