Sudan’s head of state has changed many times since the country gained independence in 1956. At first, Sudan was ruled by the Queen of the UK and Egypt’s leader.
Later, military leaders like Ibrahim Abboud and Jaafar Nimeiry took control. In 1989 Omar al-Bashir became president, leading Sudan for nearly 30 years.
After he was removed in 2019, a military council led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan took over. The country was supposed to move to democracy, but al-Burhan regained control after a coup in 2021.
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Today, Sudan is in a transitional phase with a mixed civilian-military leadership. Here’s a full list of Sudan’s head of state since the country gained independence in 1956:
Name | Took office | Left office | Political Party |
|---|---|---|---|
Sovereignty Council | 1 January 1956 | 17 November 1958 | Multipartisan |
Ibrahim Abboud | 17 November 1958 | 16 November 1964 | Military |
Sirr Al-Khatim Al-Khalifa | Acting President | 16 November 1964 | National Umma Party |
First Committee of Sovereignty | 3 December 1964 | 10 June 1965 | Multipartisan |
Second Committee of Sovereignty | 10 June 1965 | 8 July 1965 | — |
Ismail al-Azhari | 8 July 1965 | 25 May 1969 | Democratic Unionist Party |
Gaafar Nimeiry | 25 May 1969 | 6 April 1985 | Military / Sudanese Socialist Union |
Abdel Rahman Swar al-Dahab | 6 April 1985 | 6 May 1986 | Military |
Ahmed al-Mirghani | 6 May 1986 | 30 June 1989 | Democratic Unionist Party |
Omar al-Bashir | 30 June 1989 | 11 April 2019 | Military / National Congress Party |
Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf | 11 April 2019 | 12 April 2019 | Military / National Congress Party |
Abdel Fattah al-Burhan | 12 April 2019 | 20 August 2019 | Military |
Transitional Sovereignty Council | 20 August 2019 | 25 October 2021 | Multipartisan (FFC and TMC) |
Abdel Fattah al-Burhan | 25 October 2021 | 11 November 2021 | Military |
Transitional Sovereignty Council | 11 November 2021 | Incumbent | Multipartisan |
Who Was The Head Of State Of Sudan In 1958?
The head of state of Sudan in 1958 was Ibrahim Abboud. He became the Commander-in-Chief of Sudan’s military forces after Sudan gained its independence from British-Egyptian rule in 1956.
Abboud’s rise to power came during a time of political instability in Sudan. The country was struggling with weak leadership, economic issues, and a lack of a solid constitution.
In 1958, just two years after independence, General Ibrahim Abboud led a military coup that overthrew the civilian government of Prime Minister Abdallah Khalil.
This coup was the beginning of Sudan’s first period of military rule. Abboud justified his actions by stating that the country was in a state of chaos and needed strong leadership to restore order and stability.
After the coup, he formed a military government, and he became both the head of state and the head of government. During his rule, Abboud implemented several changes in Sudan.
He suspended the existing constitution, dissolved political parties, and ruled with the support of a Supreme Council made up of military leaders.
He addressed Sudan’s economic issues and foreign relations, improving ties with neighboring countries like Egypt. However, his government also faced opposition, especially from the southern part of Sudan.
The government’s policies of Arabization and Islamization caused anger in the non-Arab, non-Muslim southern regions, leading to uprisings and eventually a civil war.
In 1964, after growing protests and strikes from different groups, including students and workers, Abboud’s government faced intense pressure.
He finally resigned in November 1964, bringing an end to his rule and to Sudan’s first period of military dictatorship. This was a turning point in Sudan’s history, as the country shifted back to civilian governance after Abboud’s resignation.
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Who Rules Sudan Now?
Currently, Sudan is ruled by the Transitional Sovereignty Council (TSC), which is led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. The TSC is a governing body formed to lead Sudan through a transition period after the fall of the long-time president Omar al-Bashir in 2019.
Initially, the TSC was set up as a joint civilian and military leadership, with both civilian and military members sharing power.
However, after a coup in October 2021, the TSC became dominated by the military, and its civilian members were replaced with new ones.
The Transitional Sovereignty Council is made up of both military leaders and civilian representatives. The current chair of the TSC is General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who has held this position since the coup in 2021.
Other key military leaders, like General Hemedti and General Shams al-Din Khabbashi, hold power within the council.
The civilian members of the council include figures like Raja Nicola, who is one of the few women in this body. The TSC was originally formed in August 2019 after a political agreement between the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) alliance, which represents civilian political groups, and the military leadership that had taken power after Bashir’s removal.
This was supposed to be a shared leadership for a 39-month transitional period, during which Sudan would work towards democratic elections.
However, following the coup, the TSC was restructured and became more military-focused, with civilian leaders having less influence.
The situation in Sudan has been complicated by political struggles, economic difficulties, and ongoing conflicts. As a result, the country has not yet been able to fully transition to a civilian-led government.
This has caused frustration among many Sudanese people, who continue to demand greater civilian representation and democratic reforms.
