Sudan Needs Much More Than Upgraded U.S. Ties to Rebuild Itself After Bashir

Sudan Needs Much More Than Upgraded U.S. Ties to Rebuild Itself After Bashir
Sudanese people celebrate in the streets of Khartoum after ruling generals and protest leaders announced they have reached an agreement on the disputed issue of a new governing body, July 5, 2019 (AP photo).

Is there any current world leader who faces a more imposing set of challenges than Sudan’s prime minister, Abdalla Hamdok? Four months after taking charge of a transitional government that was formed in the wake of Sudan’s popular revolution, Hamdok—a veteran diplomat with a doctorate in economics—has the unenviable task of repairing a divided, unstable and economically ravaged country with both hands tied behind his back. He is constrained by everyone from partners in the security forces who are resistant to change, to former regime hard-liners, to an expectant Sudanese public, as well as an international community that has offered effusive words of support but has taken few actions to back him up.

Hamdok’s visit to Washington in early December epitomized the difficulties he and his country face. The trip was an opportunity to mark a break with more than two decades of acrimony between Sudan and the United States that resulted from longtime President Omar al-Bashir’s ruinous regime. In some respects, the visit was a success. Hamdok was enthusiastically received in both his public and private engagements—a packed agenda that included talks with departments of government, members of Congress, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, think tanks, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. He reported significant progress to his American audiences, including the start of peace talks aimed at resolving Sudan’s tangle of internal conflicts, new judicial appointments, efforts to seize assets of former government officials, and the removal of a widely hated public order law that was used to victimize women in the name of upholding moral conduct.

Since returning from Washington, Hamdok has begun to deliver on his promise of accountability for crimes committed by the former regime. On Dec. 14, Bashir was found guilty of corruption and sentenced to two years in a reform facility. Sudan’s public prosecutor has said that broader charges will follow related to human rights abuses committed during his rule.

Keep reading for free

Already a subscriber? Log in here .

Get instant access to the rest of this article by creating a free account below. You'll also get access to three articles of your choice each month and our free newsletter:
Subscribe for an All-Access subscription to World Politics Review
  • Immediate and instant access to the full searchable library of tens of thousands of articles.
  • Daily articles with original analysis, written by leading topic experts, delivered to you every weekday.
  • The Daily Review email, with our take on the day’s most important news, the latest WPR analysis, what’s on our radar, and more.