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Institutional Reforms for the Future of Sudan: Reforming Government Structures and Politics

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Institutional Reforms for the Future of Sudan: Reforming Government Structures and Politics

Published: 15th November 2015

Sudan is mired in a structural governance crisis which threatens the stability, viability and unity of the state. Addressing this crisis will require both significant political change and a series of extensive reforms within the key functions of the state, including in political governance, the rule of law and the economy. Over the past few months, Sudan Democracy First Group (SDFG) has engaged a wide range of Sudanese academics and civil society actors in a debate on the reforms needed for a viable, peaceful and democratic Sudan.

In this paper, Reforming Government Structures and Politics, Professor al-Tayib Zain al-Abdien Mohamed contends that, since independence, Sudan has failed to create a political system, including a permanent Constitution, able to manage the country’s diversity, resulting in weak and short-lived democratic governments followed by military coups and long dictatorships.

Key Institutional Reforms Identified:

  • An inclusive constitution-making process, culminating in a permanent Constitution;
  • A fundamental reform of the federal system based on six regions, with a fair and equitable distribution of revenues;
  • The introduction of a strengthened legislature with greater oversight, elected on the basis of proportional representation;
  • The introduction of an elected Prime Minister and six regional assistants within the Presidency;
  • A reconstituting of the civil service based on merit, but with affirmative action to increase regional representation; and
  • Strengthening of both political parties and civil society to build a democratic culture.

He argues that a “serious and constructive national dialogue” is needed for a “comprehensive, fair and peaceful solution”, which has the “agreement and consent between all the Sudanese people.”