The executive authority is granted by the constitution to the President of the Republic, who is directly elected by the people, along with the Vice President, in elections held every four years. In the event that the President vacates his position, the Vice President assumes the presidency. If both the President and the Vice President vacate their positions, the parliament elects someone to serve as acting president for the remainder of the presidential term.
The primary duty of the President is to implement the constitution and the laws enacted by parliament, and to oversee the entire administration in the interest of the nation. To achieve this, the President is assisted by a large executive body comprising several executive departments, each headed by a member of his government. In fulfilling this role, the President is accountable to the people, while the members of his government are accountable to him for carrying out his agenda aimed at improving the overall well-being of the nation.
The president has the authority to veto any legislation, and no law shall become effective without his approval, unless it is ratified by a two-thirds majority of parliament. The President has the right to veto any legislation passed in the country, and no law becomes effective without his approval, unless it is passed by a two-thirds majority. The President is also responsible for issuing regulations and executive orders, ensuring that they are as constitutional as the laws themselves. The President is also responsible for managing foreign relations, executing treaties, and appointing ambassadors and ministers plenipotentiary. He has the authority to receive foreign ambassadors and liaison officers and to engage with foreign governments either directly or through his Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The President must be at least thirty years old, a Sudanese national, and have resided in Sudan for a continuous period of no less than fifteen years immediately preceding their candidacy. The candidate must also possess the necessary qualifications in terms of education, administrative capability, intellectual aptitude, and moral integrity. Any citizen who believes they meet these qualifications has the right to nominate themselves for the presidency.
The president is elected by the people and appoints their cabinet, which includes ministers for education, health, finance and economy, foreign affairs, interior affairs, agriculture, trade and industry, defense, and labor.
Ministers have the right to oversee public services throughout the country as a unified system. Each minister is assisted by several deputies and advisors, and their ministry is divided into departments, divisions, and offices. There will also be several independent agencies, supervised by committees, to assist the President in carrying out the significant duties of his office. These agencies include the Gezira Committee, a committee overseeing railway operations, and another for postal services.
Additionally, there are the Audit Office and the Department of Justice, both of which operate independently under the supervision of the President. The President also appoints judges for various central courts, the Supreme Court, the Constitutional Court, and the Court of Appeals, as well as the Chief Justice. All of these appointments are subject to parliamentary approval.
State governors are considered deputies to the President, assisting in managing their respective states. They are elected by the residents of their states and appoint their own deputies in a manner similar to the President’s appointments.
The President also has the right to hold a public referendum on any issue he deems necessary or in the event of a significant disagreement with parliament. The constitution specifies the procedures to be followed in such cases.
The President has the authority to annul the actions of state governors if he deems them inconsistent with the law. The President is also responsible for investing the country’s resources, producing essential consumer goods, setting limits on imports, ensuring social justice for all citizens, and preparing the central budget as well as the budgets of the states in a manner that ensures balanced and coordinated development across the country.
The President is assisted in his duties by an organized civil service system, where entry and promotion are based on merit and competence, which can be assessed through examinations. Although this system is protected and overseen by a dedicated committee, it remains subject to continuous oversight by parliament, the public, and the government to prevent it from becoming stagnant or disconnected from innovation and progress.
The President’s annual salary, initially, does not exceed one thousand pounds, and he resides in the presidential palace, where he also maintains his offices.