Staunch Sudan-Israel normalisation backer named in Sudan Sovereign Council

Sudan's de facto ruler General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan named a prominent advocate for Sudanese-Israeli normalisation as a member of the new transitional Sovereign Council on Thursday.

Burhan appointedr Abou al-Qassem Bortoum to the council with intentions for the to lead the country following the military takeover last month, Reuters reported.

Bortoum, a businessman and former member of parliament, began promoting the idea of Israeli normalisation in the final years of former ousted dictator President Omar al-Bashir's regime.

"Four delegations from northern Sudan met with Al-Burhan in the past few days to discourage him from appointing Bortoum to the council, saying he is a controversial figure who does not represent the social society," The New Arab's sister publication Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported, citing information privately received.

Bortoum told Sky News he hoped the new government would be well-received stating "we are civilians, the civilians are not only Hamdok".

Last year, Bortoum strongly welcomed the meeting that brought Burhan, chairman of the sovereign council, and former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu together in Uganda, stating there is no justification for hostility to Israel.

The businessman also previously announced his desire to lead a delegation to visit Israel with the aim of advancing normalisation between the countries.

Sudan normalised ties with Israel last January in a US-brokered agreement, however has been slow to increase official cooperation with the Jewish state.