Facing the Truth: Kamel Idris.. Welcoming the Transition
Ibrahim Shaqlawi
In a national scene held in the city of Port Sudan, Dr. Kamel Al-Tayeb Idris took the constitutional oath as Prime Minister, thus beginning a new chapter in Sudan’s political transition after an executive vacuum that lasted four years. The moment of appointment went beyond constitutional procedures to a real test for what remains of hopes to rescue the course of the Sudanese state.
There is no doubt that the choice of Dr. Idris at this timing reflects an awareness by decision-makers that the phase requires a personality with national competence and international experience, capable of addressing the domestic scene and balancing foreign relations. The man, with his academic and diplomatic background and his distance from partisan conflicts, enjoyed wide acceptance and raised expectations regarding what he can accomplish — especially since just yesterday he delivered a speech expressing a promising work plan.
However, the welcome Idris received, both at the street level and via social media platforms, does not only reflect acceptance of his persona, but essentially expresses a public yearning to emerge from the tunnel of crisis and a hope for competence capable of addressing the challenges of the post-war era.
What can be clearly observed in the reactions of Sudanese people to his appointment is that the welcome was not confined to him or his biography but expanded to include the political act itself — the transition from the reality of war to the horizon of peace, and from a power vacuum to the outlines of a state. Sudanese people who have lived through chaos and collapse no longer look for a “single savior,” but rather aspire to a new beginning that redefines the state as a cradle for security, services, and institutions, far from wars and conflicts.
Therefore, the welcome extended to Idris expresses what can be called a “minimum hope” — that is, welcoming the very idea of transition regardless of its personalities: from militia authority to the rule of law, from fear and fragmentation to a straight, predictable system.
In this context, his speech acquires high significance, as it represents the transition from a deferred state shrouded in conflicts to a possible state characterized by security and peace, and from the zero-sum rhetoric that distinguished parties during the past period to a unified, national political project that is feasible on the ground.
The timing of Idris’s appointment is not devoid of important significance; it comes amid political and legislative vacuum, widespread economic and service deterioration, as well as security disturbances. The man arrived to power after
Sudan had fully suffered political failure and divisions since the fall of the Bashir regime in 2019 and the armed violence that followed, which tore apart the national fabric and left widespread destruction in several states.
In the absence of an effective legislative council and the continuation of ministers from armed movements despite the expiration of their mandates under the Juba Peace Agreement, the new Prime Minister faces a structural dilemma concerning the legitimacy of the government team itself, overlapping authorities, and the absence of institutional clarity that has long hindered the Sudanese state. Here, the importance of his experience and wisdom emerges, as well as his ability to convince the different forces to form an exceptional working team that lays the foundation for a new phase.
It is important to distinguish between “legitimacy of appointment” and “legitimacy of achievement.” The Chairman of the Sovereignty Council, Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, granted Dr. Idris broad powers to form a new government following the Eid al-Adha holiday. However, these powers, despite their importance, do not guarantee success in a turbulent political context unless supported by a national base and a clear governmental project. Here the greatness of the Sudanese people is manifested in their support for the man.
Without collective political will that transcends the logic of quota division and adopts an actual founding project, Idris’s appointment will remain an administrative step without real transformative horizon. The challenge is not only to form a “new” government but to redefine the role of transitional governance and consolidate the principle of good governance during a period marked by institutional fragility.
The images circulated by activists showing the Prime Minister prostrating in gratitude to God upon his arrival in Port Sudan, although impactful in their symbolism, are not sufficient to form a national consensus on his ability to accomplish the required transformation. Sudanese people expect more than symbols and emotions; they await real management of the reconstruction file, ending fragmentation, improving people’s livelihoods, and restoring trust in governing institutions and the state.
According to what we see from #Facing_The_Truth, Sudan needs what can be called a “new social contract,” putting an end to division and establishing a state of institutions. In this context, Kamel Idris should not be viewed as a “single savior,” but rather as an entry point to formulating an inclusive political path. As Dr. Imad al-Din Khalil says: “Events do not make history, but the conscious will that captures the moment of the event and transforms it into a project. Nations do not rise through sudden transformations but when they possess the vision that places circumstances within an objective context of construction and change.”
Stay well and healthy.
Monday, June 2, 2025
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