The newly appointed governor of Sudan’s East Darfur State on Monday appointed a new cabinet. Governor Anes Mansur appointed seven ministers who do not hail from the state and ten locality commissioners from the state.

Mansur in a series of gubernatorial decrees made the following appointments:

· Ahmed Hassan Ali Al Imama, Minister of Physical planning

· Hashim Suleiman Ahmed, Minister of Health

· Ahmed Abdurrahman, Minister of Agriculture

· Al Hajj Mohamed Al Hajj, Minister of Finance

· Mohamed Adam Mohamed, Minister of Education

· Idris Zachariah Ibrahim, Minister of Animal Resources

· Amani Hassan Mukhatar, Minister of Social Welfare.

Since the establishment of East Darfur State a few years ago, at least four appointed state governors have struggled to control tribal conflicts between the Maalia and Rizeigat tribes. Anes Mansur is the first governor who is not native to the state.

Reaction of citizens

Many Sudanese citizens of diverse backgrounds in Adila, Abu Karinka and Ad Daein towns applauded the newly reshuffled government.

Yusuf, a citizen living in Ad Daein town told Radio Tamazuj that the decision taken by the governor to appoint ministers who are not from the state will help fight nepotism and discrimination.

Meanwhile, Yusuf Ali, a local leader in Adila said the new cabinet is a step in the right direction, saying any government that includes East Darfur sons ends up in crisis.