Sudan commentator says PM Kamil Idris has failed to meet demands of office

CAIRO — Sudanese political commentator Dia Al-Din Billal has criticized Prime Minister Kamil Idris, saying the veteran diplomat and politician has failed to meet the demands of office nearly one year after his appointment, as the premier continues an official visit to Europe.

In brief statement posted on Facebook Saturday, Billal said Idris had so far failed to deliver “even the minimum” required by the responsibilities of the position despite approaching his first anniversary in office on Tuesday.

“It pains me to say that Dr. Kamil Idris, who on Tuesday will complete one full year since his appointment as prime minister, has so far failed to deliver even the minimum required by the responsibilities of the office,” Billal wrote.

The criticism comes as Idris is currently touring several European countries in a diplomatic push aimed at strengthening Sudan’s external relations and mobilizing support for reconstruction and post-war recovery efforts.

Billal said many of the directives announced by the prime minister had not been implemented, accusing the government of failing to translate policy announcements into practical results.

“The directives he announces never find their way into implementation,” he said, adding that some of Idris’ public remarks had generated “astonishment — if not outright ridicule.”

Kamil Idris, a former senior United Nations official and ex-head of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), was appointed prime minister amid growing political and economic turmoil as Sudan’s conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) entered a prolonged phase.

Since taking office, Idris has repeatedly pledged to restore state institutions, improve public services and pursue diplomatic engagement with regional and international actors backing efforts to stabilize Sudan.

However, the war has continued to devastate large parts of the country, with millions displaced and much of Sudan’s infrastructure and economy severely damaged.

Billal also criticized Idris’ foreign visits, saying they had not produced “tangible results or meaningful gains” for Sudan despite repeated diplomatic outreach abroad.

The prime minister’s office has not publicly responded to the remarks.

Sudan remains divided by conflict and political fragmentation more than three years after fighting erupted in April 2023, with competing administrations, economic collapse and humanitarian pressures continuing to undermine governance across much of the country.