Citizens of an-Nahud in the recently restored West Kordofan State have demanded a number of concessions from Governor Ahmed Khamis, multiple sources confirmed to Radio Tamazuj.
Their demands include making the town capital of a sub-region within the state as well as two thirds of the ministers to be appointed to the state cabinet.
An-Nahud lies within Hamar territory, as compared to the state capital al-Fula which lies within Misseriya territory.
The town was part of North Kordofan until the recent establishment of West Kordofan State. Even after the designation of al-Fula as the state capital, prominent figures from an-Nahud have demanded that it be made into a ‘second capital.’
According to Al-Haj Ali Adam Abu-Agla, editor-in-chief of the Zajil electronic newspaper, the demands of the citizens were based on the latest census carried out in the area.
Meanwhile, other observers in West Kordofan State attributed the delay of government appointments to consultations being conducted among the three main groups within the state (Hamr in an-Nahud, Nuba in Lagawa, and Misseriya in al-Fula).
Abu-Obeida Mohamed, an activist in the state, echoed the demands of other residents saying also that the “residents of northern areas in West Kordofan State demanded the position of Deputy Governor.”
It has been suggested that Dr Hein Hamdi is likely to be the strongest candidate to occupy that position.
File photo: Sudaneseonline.com
Related: Hamar leader opposes al-Fula as new West Kordofan capital (18 July 2013)