KHARTOUM, Sudan

The Sudanese Cabinet relieved Foreign Minister Ali al-Sadiq on Wednesday and assigned Deputy Minister Hussein Awad to his duties, the official television station said in a statement. 

The Cabinet issued the decision without specifying the reasons.

Abdel Fattah al-Burhan appointed al-Sadiq the foreign minister on Jan. 21, 2022, as part of a Cabinet with 15 ministers, following al-Burhan's exceptional measures on Oct. 25, 2021, which included the dissolution of the Sovereignty Council and the Transitional Government and the declaration of a state of emergency.

Awad was appointed deputy foreign minister in December and previously served as ambassador to Zambia and Uganda. 

The Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces have been engaged in a war since last April that has resulted in 15,000 deaths and more than 8 million displaced and refugees, according to the UN.  

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala