Sudan replaces finance, foreign and energy ministers in reshuffle after protests

Sudan's prime minister replaced the country's energy, finance, foreign and health ministers as part of a cabinet reshuffle, the government announced on Thursday. 

Three other senior cabinet members were removed from their posts. 

Plans for a cabinet reshuffle had been in the works for some time, according to observers. Many were surprised by the decision to remove the country's finance minister, Ibrahim Badawi. 

Badawi played a central role in liaising with foreign partners and steering Sudan's fragile economy following the removal of former President Omar al-Bashir last year.  

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The government said Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok dismissed the health minister and accepted the resignation of other ministers. 

Hamdok leads a government of technocrats as part of a 39-month power-sharing agreement between civilian groups and the military that emerged after Bashir was toppled by a protest movement. 

Badawi's replacement will be Heba Ahmed Ali, a senior finance ministry official, the government said. 

This reshuffle comes after more than a week of street protests demanding faster reforms from the transitional government. 

Before the protests, Hamdok vowed to introduce a series of reforms. Earlier this week, he fired Sudan's police chief, who was accused of being close to Bashir's government.