Sudan: Leadership
Chapter 4: Red Sea, Horn of Africa
Sudan: Leadership
Executive
/ Legislative, Judicial / Political Parties
Overview
/ System Essentials / Infrastructure
/ Population / Fielded Forces
/ Table of Contents
Khartoum, Sudan's capital
The ruling military junta (the Revolutionary Command Council) was dissolved on 16 October 1993 and replaced by a transitional civilian government. The RCC's executive and legislative powers were transferred to the President and the Transitional National Assembly (TNA), Sudan's appointed legislative body. The Chief of State and head of the government is President Lt. General Umar Hasan Ahmad al-Bashir. On 30 October 1993,
President Bashir announced a new, predominantly civilian cabinet, consisting of 20 federal ministers, most of whom retained their previous cabinet positions.
The legislative branch of Sudan's government is the appointed 300-member Transitional National Assembly. It has officially assumed all legislative authority for Sudan until the eventual, unspecified resumption of national elections.
The legal system is based on English common law and Islamic law. As of 20 January 1991, the now defunct RCC imposed Islamic law in the northern state where it applies to all residents regardless of their religion. To date, Islamic law has not been applied in the southern states.
Lt. Gen. Bashirs' government is dominated by members of Sudan's National Islamic Front, a fundamentalist political organization formed from the Muslim Brotherhood in 1986. Its leader, Hasan al-Turabi, controls Khartoum's overall domestic and foreign policies.