Sudanese Sovereignty Council (1964–1965)

Their Excellency
Sudanese Sovereignty Council
مجلس السيادة السوداني
The 1964 Sovereignty Council from left to right: Tigani El Mahi, Mubarak Shadad, Ibrahim Yusuf Sulayman, Luigi Adwok Bong Gicomeho and Abdel Halim Mohamed
Head of State of Sudan
In office
3 December 1964 – 10 June 1965
Prime MinisterSirr Al-Khatim Al-Khalifa
Preceded bySirr Al-Khatim Al-Khalifa (acting)
Succeeded byIsmail al-Azhari

The Second Sudanese Sovereignty Council (3 December 1964–10 June 1965) emerged as a result of the October 1964 Revolution, a popular uprising against the military dictatorship of General Ibrahim Abboud.[1]

Background

Abboud's regime, which came to power after 1958 Sudanese coup d'état, was marked by authoritarian rule and economic mismanagement. The Sudanese people, frustrated with their living conditions and political repression, took to the streets demanding change. The October 1964 Revolution, also known as the October Revolution, was a series of protests and demonstrations that eventually forced General Abboud to step down from power. The revolution began with student-led demonstrations in the city of Wad Medani, triggered by the government's decision to increase prices of basic commodities. The protests quickly spread to other cities, including Khartoum, the capital of Sudan.[2][3]

Formation

As the revolution gained momentum, a transitional period emerged, marked by negotiations and power-sharing arrangements. On 3 December 1964, General Abboud resigned, and a new government, known as the Second Sudanese Sovereignty Council, was formed to oversee the transition to civilian rule. The Second Sovereignty Council acted as a collective presidency, consisting of five members, Tigani El Mahi (Academic / Independent), Mubarak Shadad (Democratic Unionist Party), Ibrahim Yusuf Sulayman (People's Democratic Party), Luigi Adwok Bong Gicomeho (Southern Front) and Abdel Halim Mohamed (Umma Party).[4] The Second Sudanese Sovereignty Council consisted of prominent political figures who played crucial roles during this period. Sirr Al-Khatim Al-Khalifa, a respected Sudanese politician, served as the Prime Minister from 30 October 1964 to 2 June 1965. Al-Khalifa, who had been a vocal critic of General Abboud's regime, was seen as a unifying figure during the transition.[5][6]

Tenure

The Second Sovereignty Council faced numerous challenges during its tenure. Its primary objective was to oversee the drafting of a new constitution and pave the way for democratic elections. However, internal divisions and competing interests among council members hindered progress. Additionally, the council had to contend with external pressures and regional dynamics, such as the ongoing Cold War. Despite these challenges, the Second Sudanese Sovereignty Council managed to accomplish several significant milestones. One of its notable achievements was the promulgation of the Interim Constitution of 1964, which aimed to establish a framework for democratic governance. The council also facilitated the release of political prisoners and initiated a series of reforms to address social and economic grievances.[7][1]

Furthermore, the Second Sovereignty Council played a crucial role in organising the general elections held in April 1965[8] and welcomed the 1965 Elizabeth II's visit to Sudan.[9][10] These elections marked an important milestone in Sudan's political history as they led to the establishment of a civilian government. Ismail al-Azhari, a prominent Sudanese politician, assumed the presidency after winning the elections, and Muhammad Ahmad Mahgoub replaced Sirr Al-Khatim Al-Khalifa as prime minister. In June 1965, the council was dissolved, and power was transferred to the newly elected civilian government. The transition to civilian rule marked a significant milestone in Sudan's history, as it represented a departure from military-dominated governance,[11] until the 1969 Sudanese coup d'état.

Council's presidents

Members of the council rotated to be the president monthly. The president of the council was consequently the head of the state.[12] The council's presidents were:

References

  1. ^ a b "Daftar Presiden Sudan | UNKRIS | Pusat Ilmu Pengetahuan". p2k.unkris.ac.id. Archived from the original on 2022-12-12. Retrieved 2022-12-12.
  2. ^ Mahmoud.Munir. "برد": قصص سودانية من الثلاثينيات [Sudanese Stories from the Thirties]. Alaraby (in Arabic). Retrieved 2022-12-12.
  3. ^ "Queen Elizabeth II and Africa: In pictures". BBC News. 2022-09-09. Archived from the original on 2023-01-28. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
  4. ^ "Heads of State". Zarate. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
  5. ^ "Obituary: Abdel Halim Mohammed Abdel Halim" (PDF). Brit.med.J. 2009.
  6. ^ Sheikh Idris A Rahim (April 2011). "The Mahi-Baasher Heritage" (PDF). Sudanese Journal of Psychiatry. 1 (2): 87–97. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-04-09. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
  7. ^ "Abdel Halim Mohamed Halim | RCP Museum". history.rcplondon.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 2022-12-10. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
  8. ^ Dieter Nohlen, Michael Krennerich & Bernhard Thibaut (1999) Elections in Africa: A data handbook, p851 ISBN 0-19-829645-2
  9. ^ Tibber, Peter (2015-02-22). "50th Anniversary of the State Visit of Queen Elizabeth to Sudan | Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs". Retrieved 2023-06-11.
  10. ^ "QUEEN IN SUDAN VISITS EL OBEID AND KHARTOUM". British Pathe. 1965. Archived from the original on 24 July 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
  11. ^ Allison, Ronald; Riddell, Sarah (1991). The Royal Encyclopedia. Macmillan Press. ISBN 978-0-333-53810-4. Archived from the original on 2023-04-11. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  12. ^ "Sudan (The): Sovereignty Council: 1964-1969 - Archontology.org". www.archontology.org. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
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