AU backs Sudan junta’s move to appoint Kamil Idris as new prime minister

The African Union has welcomed Sudan's appointment of Kamil Idris as the new prime minister, calling it a possible step toward inclusive governance in a country gripped by war and military rule.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf praised the decision by Sudanese junta leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to name Idris, a former UN official and former presidential candidate, as prime minister.

"The Chairperson commends this development as a step toward inclusive governance and expresses hope that it will contribute meaningfully to ongoing efforts to restore constitutional order and democratic governance in Sudan," he said.

This marks the first formal appointment of a prime minister since Sudan's military staged a coup in 2021 that brought down a fragile civilian-led government and threw the country into political uncertainty.

The African Union, which has consistently pushed for a return to civilian rule in Sudan, reaffirmed its backing for efforts aimed at rebuilding the nation.

"He reiterated the African Union's firm commitment to the unity, sovereignty, and stability of Sudan and to the pursuit of a durable political solution that secures peace, development, and democratic governance for all Sudanese," the statement added.

The move comes less than a month after Burhan named Dadallah Al-Haj Ali, a little-known diplomat, as acting prime minister—a position that was never formalised and quickly faded from public attention.

It remains unclear whether Kamil Idris’ appointment signals a genuine political shift or another symbolic gesture by the military.