Sudan's opposition umbrella on Thursday nominated a former senior UN official to become the country’s prime minister in a transitional government.

The nomination is the first step towards the formation of a transitional administration that will prepare for free and fair elections after the ouster of long-time leader Omar al-Bashir in April following months of protests.

The Forces of Freedom and Change (FCC) announced at a press conference in Khartoum that they had named veteran economist Abdullah Hamdok as their candidate to be the first civilian prime minister since Omar al-Bashir took power in 1989.

The protest leaders pointed out that the candidate had already been informed to serve as prime minister in the transitional government.

“We expect the nominee to return to Sudan soon. Hamdok will carry out consultations with the Forces of Freedom and Change to form his cabinet,” the coalition said.

Dr Hamdok, a graduate of the University of Manchester, was last working as Deputy Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa, and has held positions at the International Labor Organization and the African Development Bank.

He also served as an official in Sudan's Ministry of Finance in the 1980s, before the military coup that put Bashir in power.

In September 2018, Hamdok was named as the finance minister by the ousted President Omar al-Bashir, but he turned down the offer.

Peace ceremony

Separately, the opposition alliance announced that a landmark deal paving the way for civilian rule will be signed at a ceremony in Khartoum on Saturday.

The group pointed out that the ceremony will officialise the constitutional declaration inked on 4 August between the Transitional Military Council and the Forces for Freedom and Change.

The protest leaders revealed that the composition of the sovereign council, which will become the highest decision-making body overseeing the transition to democracy, is due to be announced on Sunday.

“The ruling Transitional Military Council will be officially dissolved on Sunday,” the alliance said, adding that the premier will be officially named by the sovereign council on 20 August.

According to the opposition coalition, the cabinet is due to be unveiled on 28 August, with the newly-appointed ministers due to meet the transitional sovereign council on 1 September.

The development came after protracted talks between the ruling Transitional Military Council and the Forces of Freedom and Change.