SUDAN’S army chief has appointed the country’s first prime minister since it plunged into civil war two years ago and following months of steady advances by the government military against its paramilitary rival.

Kamil al-Taib Idris will be tasked with forming a transitional administration, a move long sought by military chief General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, particularly after the army regained control of Khartoum in March and ousted the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) from the capital.

The war in Sudan broke out in April 2023 when the military and the RSF turned against each other in a struggle for power. At least 20,000 people have been reported killed, but the true toll is probably far higher. 

Nearly 13 million people have fled their homes and half of the 50 million-strong population faces hunger.

The last prime minister, Abdalla Hamdok, resigned in 2022 during widespread pro-democracy protests.

Journalist and political analyst Osman Mirghani said that Monday’s appointment of Mr Idris marked an important step towards the restoration of civilian-led rule.

“His chances of being accepted by various communities of the Sudanese society seems higher, even among those who support the RSF, because he has no political affiliations,” he said.

Mr Idris had previously worked as the legal adviser to Sudan’s United Nations mission and is a member of the UN International Law Commission.