Article from Manchester Evening News.co.uk
Dated Sunday 01 September 2019
The new prime minister of Sudan lived in a Hulme apartment block and got married here in Manchester
Dr Abdalla Hamdok lived in Hulme for over nine years and studied at Manchester University before being elected as the country's new leader earlier this month
Prime Minister, Dr Abdalla Hamdok
He might be the new Prime Minister of Sudan, but Dr Abdalla Hamdok lived, studied and married in Manchester.
Following the toppling of Omar Al-Bashir in April, the honorary Manc, who hadn't been allowed back to Sudan for over forty years, was elected as the country's leader earlier this month.
The 65-year-old economist, who lived in Manchester for nine years, took office on August 21, and is the biggest hope among the Sudanese that he will turn around the country's precarious economy.
Prime Minister Hamdok moved to Manchester in 1978 and studied at the university's Faculty of Economics, where he completed a Masters degree and PHD in Economics and Socialist studies.
Close friend, Gaafer Ali, grew up with Dr Hamdok in Sudan and lives in Heaton Chapel with his family.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Mr Ali tells of how the Manchester University student rose to power.
"When I came to Manchester to study, Dr Hamdok had already been here for about two years, but we knew each other already as we grew up together in Sudan," Mr Ali said.
"Abdalla was already working for the Sudanese government for the Ministry of Economic Planning when he came over to do his degree."
Prime Minister Hamdok finished his PHD in the late 1980s and had planned to return to his job with the Sudanese government.
But in 1989, following a military coup, Omar Al-Bashir rose to power - leaving Dr Hamdok without a job, or a country he could safely return to.
"Whilst he was still in Manchester, Abdalla was sacked from his job and there was no way he could go back to Sudan as it was too dangerous," Mr Ali said.
The Prime Minister instead remained in Manchester, renting an apartment block in Hulme at the back of Manchester Metropolitan University.
It was there that he met his current wife Muna, and the pair married in 1993 in south Manchester - possibly in Didsbury, Mr Ali said.
The couple have two grown-up sons, with one studying at Exeter University, and one having recently graduated from a university in America.
Still unsafe to return to his home country, Dr Hamdok moved to Zimbabwe in the mid 90s, before travelling around several African countries including Ethiopia and South Africa, working as an economic advisor.
Mr Ali said that during the course of the next twenty years, his friend built up a successful reputation as one of Africa's most trusted, and respected economists.
It was no doubt then that when Bashir's government was finally toppled, Dr Hamdok was considered for the job.
By this point, it had been forty years since Dr Hamdok had stepped foot in the country he was about to rule.
"When Bashir fell, the military was taken over by a new civilian council who needed to elect a new president," Mr Ali said.
"At the time, Dr Hamdok was the most experienced and trusted economics in Africa and he was chosen by the Sudanese Professional Association to become Prime Minister."
"He is a professional and people really believe that he will be able to save the country from the economic crumble that Omar Al-Bashir left it in."
A number of countries including the UK and USA have since congratulated Dr Hamdok's appointment as Prime Minister, calling his election a 'historic moment.'
A joint statement from Troika (United Kingdom, United States and Norway) said: "The Troika countries congratulate Dr. Abdalla Hamdok on his appointment as prime minister by the Sovereign Council and welcome the extensive professional experience he brings to the role.
"We welcome this step in creating a civilian-led government. As Prime Minister Hamdok begins the process of selecting ministers and identifying the government’s priorities, we look forward to working with Sudan’s new institutions.
"At this historic moment, Sudan has a unique opportunity to establish peace within its borders, draft a constitution that enshrines human rights protections and empowers all Sudanese, including women and youth, and create the infrastructure for free and fair elections.
"We encourage all sides to engage in good faith to deliver these goals, in particular urging the armed movements to engage constructively with the new Government to achieve peace.
"We will continue to support Sudan’s civilian-led transitional government as it conducts an investigation of the violence perpetrated against peaceful demonstrators and holds those responsible to account.
"The appointment of a civilian-led government presents an opportunity to rebuild a stable economy and create a government that respects human rights and personal freedoms. Prime Minister Hamdok will have the Troika’s support in achieving these objectives."
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