A BAHRAIN resident who has been a key player in co-ordinating protests in his home country could potentially become Sudan’s next Health Minister.
Dr Moiz Bakhit, who is the director of Bahrain-based Princess Al Jawahara Centre for Molecular Medicine and Inherited Disorders, told the GDN he will travel to Sudan today to discuss plans for him to become a minister under a new civilian government.
A series of demonstrations broke out across Sudan in December against Omar Al Bashir’s regime over rising cost of living and worsening economic conditions.
In February Al Bashir declared a state of emergency and dissolved the government, replacing it with a military rule.
Widespread protests intensified, prompting the military to remove Al Bashir from power on April 11 and arrest him.
Protesters organised by the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA) and democratic opposition groups continued to engage in street demonstrations, calling on the ruling military council to immediately step aside for a civilian-led government.
Dr Bakhit, a member of the SPA, said the chance of him leaving Bahrain to take up public office in Sudan was 50-50.
“Yes, there is a proposal from the group and the various leaders within for me to take the post of the Health Minister as we form the civilian government,” he said.
“However, my answer to them was a no and it remains that until now.
“So, they have asked me to go down for a meeting and I am travelling to Sudan on Thursday.
“I believe there is much more I can do from other leadership positions than being a minister which is more an executive authority.
“I think I can contribute to the development of my country from outside the system than being part of it, which is what Sudan needs today.”
Amidst his responsibilities at the Jawahara Centre, Dr Bakhit also heads the country’s anticipated Bahrain Genome Project that aims to detect and treat hereditary diseases.
After obtaining his degree in Sweden he arrived in Bahrain where he has been living and working for the last 18 years.
“I left my country years ago because I could not accept the military dictatorship,” he said.
“After my studies in Sweden, where I also have a citizenship, I took up work there and then later I came to Bahrain where I have been for 18 years – all the while I was keen about achieving freedom for my country and its people and I welcome the revolution.
“There were many groups with a similar vision but we managed to bring them all under one umbrella so that we could organise ourselves and be one voice.
“This is one of the greatest revolutions that the world has ever seen – it was peaceful and initiated by youngsters, moreover 60pc of the demonstrators were women and girls.”
African leaders who met in Cairo on Tuesday agreed to give Sudan’s ruling military council three months to implement democratic reforms, amid pressure for a quick handover of power to civilians.
The decision extends a 15-day deadline set by the African Union last week for Sudan’s Transitional Military Council to hand over power to civilians or to be suspended from the grouping.
Sudan’s Public Prosecutor has started investigations into Al Bashir on charges of money laundering and possession of large sums of foreign currency without legal grounds.
According to reports, military intelligence found suitcases loaded with more than $351,000 and six million euros, as well as five million Sudanese pounds at Al Bashir’s home.
raji@gdn.com.bh
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