Revolution’s Clock Frozen
“Man of the Defunct Regime” Appointed Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court.
Revolution’s Clock Frozen : “Man of the Defunct Regime” Appointed Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court- Khartoum Highlight
The army commander and de facto ruler in Port Sudan appointed Wahbi Mohamed Mukhtar as Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court .The court has remained suspended since 2020. Wahbi was its last head, appointed by ousted president Omar al-Bashir in 2014. In 2019, during Wahbi’s tenure, the court invalidated the detention of Ahmad Haroun and Nafie Ali Nafie. Ahmad Haroun, Bashir’s aide, is wanted by the ICC for genocide and ethnic cleansing in Darfur. Nafie was a senior leader of the dissolved ruling party. The court ordered Kober prison to release them.
The Public Prosecution intervened, blocking the release. They cited other charges, including the 1989 coup and murder and torture cases. The ICC had also requested Haroun’s handover. Despite the court’s ruling, Haroun remained in custody on multiple charges.
Critics: Appointment Violates Constitutional Procedures
Muez Hadra, a lawyer and member of the prosecution in the 1989 coup case, strongly criticized Wahbi’s reappointment. He said the constitutional declaration and judicial laws required a selection committee including the Justice Minister and Attorney General. Also included were the Finance Minister, deans of Khartoum University’s law faculty, and others, according to the constitutional framework.
This committee should decide appointments, Hadra explained. “Now, there are no institutions, no constitutional document, not even a Sovereignty Council.” Hadra called the decision void, saying: “What is built on void is void.” He stressed Wahbi was appointed by Bashir. He added that Wahbi’s mandate was never renewed after the fall of the defunct regime in 2019. Hadra accused al-Burhan of attempting to return all members of the dissolved National Congress Party to power. He predicted Wahbi’s reinstatement aimed to dismiss all cases against NCP loyalists, including the 1989 coup case. He described the move as politicizing the judiciary, exploiting legal institutions to achieve political goals. Hadra concluded that Wahbi is a politicized judge with a record of loyalty to the defunct regime.
