Omar Al-Bashir

Omar Al-Bashir

President of Sudan
Date of Birth: 01.01.1944
Country: Sudan

Content:
  1. Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir: President of Sudan
  2. Rise to Power
  3. Presidency and Controversies
  4. Personal Life

Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir: President of Sudan

Early Life and Education

Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir was born on January 1, 1944, in the Arab village of Hoshe Bannaga, near Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. At that time, Sudan was under Anglo-Egyptian administration. Al-Bashir belongs to the Jaali Arab tribe, although his paternal grandfather belonged to the Falata tribe in Nigeria. He received his primary education in his village and in Khartoum.

After completing school in 1960, al-Bashir joined the Sudanese army and trained as a pilot at the Sudanese Military Academy in Khartoum. From 1967 to 1969, he served as a pilot in the Sudanese Army's Western Command. He later joined the parachute forces and fought in the October 1973 war against Israel as part of the Egyptian Armed Forces. In 1975, he served as Sudan's military attaché in the United Arab Emirates until 1979. He then became the commander of the parachute brigade from 1979 to 1981. In the 1980s, he obtained master's degrees in military science from Sudan and Malaysia.

Rise to Power

After the start of the civil war in Sudan in 1983, al-Bashir was appointed the commander of the 8th Infantry Brigade and fought against the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) rebels. In early 1989, al-Bashir, along with 15 other generals, organized the Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation (RCC) and formed an alliance with Hassan al-Turabi, the leader of the radical National Islamic Front. On June 30, 1989, al-Bashir orchestrated a coup and ousted President Sadiq al-Mahdi, who was seeking peace with the SPLA. Al-Bashir then abolished the constitution, imposed Sharia law, and declared Sudan an Islamic state.

Since coming to power, al-Bashir has been involved in multiple conflicts, including the civil war in Southern Sudan from 1983 to 2004 and the conflict in Darfur, which began in 2003. He has been accused by the United States and the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court of genocide against the civilian population of Sudan.

Presidency and Controversies

In October 1993, the RCC dissolved, and al-Bashir was appointed president. Sudan faced international sanctions and was listed as a state sponsor of terrorism by the United Nations due to al-Bashir's actions. However, he made concessions to avoid international military intervention, such as expelling Osama bin Laden from Sudan and holding presidential elections in 1996 and 2000, in which he won with overwhelming margins.

During his presidency, al-Bashir developed close ties with China, which became Sudan's main partner for oil exploration and arms supply. The revenue from oil sales contributed to Sudan's economic growth but also fueled conflicts, particularly in Southern Sudan and Darfur.

The conflict in Darfur, which started in 2003, resulted in the displacement and death of hundreds of thousands of people. Al-Bashir formed the Janjaweed militia and allowed them to commit atrocities against the local population. The international community accused him of orchestrating a genocide. In 2008, the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court requested an arrest warrant for al-Bashir on charges of genocide in Darfur.

Despite facing international criticism and sanctions, al-Bashir remained in power for 30 years until he was overthrown in a military coup in April 2019. He was succeeded by a transitional government aiming to establish a democratic system in Sudan.

Personal Life

Al-Bashir is married to Fatima Khaldid, his cousin, and has another wife named Widad. He does not have any children of his own.

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