KHARTOUM, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Leadership Office of Sudan's ruling National Congress Party (NCP) on Sunday approved the dissolution of the national unity government and named a new prime minister to tackle the country's growing economic crisis.
The decision came just after the NCP leadership office held a meeting Sunday evening, chaired by Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, to discuss changes to the government and the proposed names for the formation of the new cabinet.
Bakri Hassan Saleh, who had been serving as both prime minister and the first vice president before the shake-up will stay on as the first vice president, while Minister of Irrigation and Electricity Mutaz Mussa has named as national prime minister, Faisal Hassan Ibrahim, NCP's deputy chairman, told reporters after the meeting.
Osman Mohamed Yousif Kibir has been appointed as the second vice-president to replace Hassabo Mohamed Abdul-Rahman, Ibrahim said, adding the "reduction of the federal government from 31 ministries to 21 has also been approved."
The new prime minister will announce the new cabinet on Monday, he added.
Earlier on Sunday, official SUNA news agency reported that al-Bashir expressed intention to dissolve the government and reduce the federal ministries.
"The move is meant to reduce public expenditure and provide efficiency for government performance ... to meet requirements of national tasks," SUNA quoted al-Bashir as saying.
Sudan has been suffering from an economic crisis caused by the scarcity in liquidity and the decline in the exchange rate of its national currency.
