Sudan’s army leader al-Burhan appoints former UN official as prime minister
Al JazeeraMAY 6
Sudan Army Chief Names Ex-UN Official as Prime Minister
Above:Â Sudan's army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan attends a civil service conference in Port Sudan on April 29, 2025. Â Image copyright:Â AFP/Contributor via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
The appointment of Idris represents a strategic move to establish legitimate governance and restore order in Sudan. His extensive diplomatic experience and international credentials make him well-suited to lead a technocratic wartime government aimed at achieving military objectives and stabilizing the nation. The army's recent territorial gains and efforts to form a functioning administration show progress towards ending the conflict.
Narrative B
It's unclear how effective the appointment of Idris will be in terms of stabilizing Sudan in a devastating time of war. It's also not known how much authority al-Burhan will actually yield to Idris, and Idris' past political forays into Sudanese politics were criticized for lacking transparency. With atrocities mounting on both sides and a real fear of a permanently divided Sudan, Idris will have his work cut out for him.