Following the swearing-in of the members of the Sudanese Sovereignty Council, information was circulated that the new governors received Infiniti luxury cars and were offered by the presidential palace authorities to move to first-class hotels until their presidential residences were equipped.
The news flew on social media sites and provoked growing controversy and a large objection, involving a wide range of citizens, who considered the distribution of luxury cars to members of the Sovereign Council an extension of the lavishness of the isolated regime.
A source at the presidential palace told Asharq Al-Awsat that the presidency under Omar al-Bashir had between 800 and 1,000 luxury cars from Mercedes, BMW, Infiniti, and Toyota Land Cruiser, along with two Maybach cars, all estimated at $2.3 billion.
The significant influence of social media prompted a member of the Sovereign Council, Mohammed al-Faki Suleiman, to issue a written statement denying the ownership of luxury cars, saying: “The cars mentioned are the property of the state, and used in official ceremonies.”
He pointed out that the members of the Council would not be using those vehicles, adding that the officials would discuss means to support the state budget through this surplus.
The budget of the presidency for the current year, issued during the rule of ousted President Omar al-Bashir, is twice the budget allocated for education and health combined. It is mainly spent on cars, non-registered employees and partisans, and travel expenses. Following the revolution, millions of foreign currency papers were found in the presidential house.
Many agree that those who represent the Sovereign Council have the right to drive cars suitable for their status, to live in government houses, and to be given salaries to help them perform their duties.
What is sure, however, is that the Sudanese youth will no more allow the country’s politicians to accumulate treasures at the expense of the state.
In this regard, Faki told Asharq Al-Awsat that the political class was happy with the criticism, which helps them stay on the right path and avoid becoming wealthy rulers of poor people.
