ReleaseThe decision in early April to release a dozen Islamist figures including Ibrahim Ghandour ex-President Omer el Beshir's former foreign minister and NCP boss was an important step...

These include: Ibrahim Ghandour (former minister of Foreign Affairs and Head of the NCP) Mohamed Hamid Tabidi (National Intelligence and Security Services) General Al Shazly Hamed Al Maddeh and Mohamed Ali Jazul known for his empathy with Islamic State...

Opposition parties called the reshuffle cosmetic but El Beshir did have to replace Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour whom he sacked in mid-April (AC Vol 59 No 9 Diplomats down spies up)...

The sacking of Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour on 18 April after he complained in parliament that diplomats hadn't been paid for seven months points to the depth of the economic crisis facing the regime as well as its internal divisions...

A senior official from Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's office called Sudan's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ahmed Ghandour on 11 July when Washington announced its decision to assure him that the US engagement strategy would continue Africa Confidential understands and to explain the reasons for the deferral...

Characteristically Ibrahim Ghandour offered a milder interpretation...

Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ahmed Ghandour was in Beijing and then South Korea this week...

Then it emerged that the President had flown to Saudi taking only Taha Presidency Minister Fadil Abdullah Fadil (former NCP chief in Darfur) and Ibrahim Ghandour...

On 7 March Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ahmed Ghandour steered his usual careful course focussing on El Turabi's history and the PCP's return to the fold...

Sudan's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ahmed Ghandour was then summoned to Brussels where the EU offered Khartoum more money to prevent people-smuggling...

This helps to explain this month's visit to Beijing by President Omer Hassan Ahmed el Beshir and to Moscow by Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ahmed Ghandour; the two were also looking for arms and money...