By Mohammed Amin

KHARTOUM, Sudan  

Sudan’s parliament on Wednesday endorsed a raft of constitutional amendments one of which will revive the country’s prime ministerial post for the first time since President Omar al-Bashir came to power in a 1989 coup.

Addressing lawmakers in the assembly, Badria Suleiman, head of parliament’s legal committee, said the constitutional changes would also give the president more power, including authority to appoint cabinet ministers.

According to Suleiman, the amendments will also create more than 100 new assembly seats to allow for greater parliamentary participation by the opposition parties and rebel groups that took part in Sudan’s recent national dialogue.

The national dialogue concluded in October with promises by al-Bashir that a government of "national consensus" would be established, a prime ministerial post created, and constitutional amendments passed.

Recommendations issued by the national dialogue, however, have been largely rebuffed by Sudan’s main opposition parties and rebel groups, which say they will not participate in the proposed consensus government.