Omar al-Bashir

Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir was born on 1 January 1944. He was a Sudanese military officer and politician who led Sudan from 1989 until 2019. He took power in 1989 by leading a military coup that removed the elected government. Al-Bashir was elected president three times, though the elections were questioned for possible cheating.

During his time in charge, Sudan went through many difficult events. One big change happened in 2005 when a long war in southern Sudan ended, leading to the creation of a new country called South Sudan. However, in the Darfur region, there was a terrible conflict that caused many people to suffer and be displaced.

Al-Bashir faced serious accusations from the International Criminal Court for his government's actions in Darfur. Though he was not accused of doing the harmful acts himself, leaders of the court believed he was responsible for planning them. Many countries and groups opposed these accusations.

In 2019, after large protests calling for his removal, al-Bashir was removed from power in a military coup. He was later convicted of corruption and served time in prison. His role in Sudan's history remains important for understanding the country's recent past.

Early and family life

Omar al-Bashir was born on 1 January 1944 in Hosh Bannaga, a village near Shendi in Sudan. He grew up in a family from the Ja'alin tribe. His mother passed away in 2019, and his father was a farmer. Omar was one of twelve siblings. As a boy, he loved football and later joined the army.

He went to school at the Sudanese Military College and later moved to Khartoum North. He married his cousin Fatima Khalid and also had a second wife named Widad Babiker Omer. Omar did not have any children of his own.

Presidency

Coup d'état

Main article: 1989 Sudanese coup d'état

When he returned to Sudan, al-Bashir led a group of army officers in taking control from the government of Prime Minister Sadiq al-Mahdi on 30 June 1989. Under his leadership, the new government stopped political parties and started using Islamic law across the country. He became the leader of the country, as well as the chief of the armed forces and the Minister of Defence.

In 1993, al-Bashir made himself president and took full control of the government. He was later elected president in 1996 as the only candidate allowed to run.

Elections

Al-Bashir was elected president in 1996 and again in 2000 and 2010. From 2005 to 2010, a peace agreement ended a long war and created a shared government. However, the 2010 election faced issues with fairness.

Tensions with Hassan al-Turabi

In the mid-1990s, a disagreement grew between al-Bashir and al-Turabi, partly because of al-Turabi's ties to groups that the United States considered terrorist organizations. This led to tensions and several periods of imprisonment for al-Turabi.

Engagement with the U.S. and European countries

From the early 1990s, Sudan was accused of supporting groups labeled as terrorists by the United States. Sudan later tried to improve relations with the U.S. by offering information on some of these groups. However, the U.S. still placed sanctions on Sudan and carried out missile strikes in 1998.

South Sudan

When al-Bashir took power, a long war was already happening in the south of Sudan. This war caused great suffering and many deaths. A peace agreement in 2005 led to the creation of Southern Sudan as a separate country in 2011.

War in Darfur

In 2003, conflicts began in the Darfur region, with groups accusing the government of ignoring their needs. This led to a long and painful conflict. The government was accused of serious actions against people in the region, and international bodies called for peace and help for those affected.

Indictment by the ICC

In 2008, the International Criminal Court accused al-Bashir of serious crimes in Darfur. Al-Bashir denied the charges and said they were political. Many countries and groups around the world had different views on the charges.

Military intervention in Yemen

In 2015, Sudan joined a group of countries led by Saudi Arabia in a conflict in Yemen. This move was seen as a way for al-Bashir to gain support from powerful countries.

Allegations of corruption

Al-Bashir faced claims that he had taken large amounts of money from Sudan. These claims were denied by him and his supporters.

African space agency

In 2012, al-Bashir suggested creating a space agency for Africa to help the continent become more advanced in technology.

Ousting from power

In 2019, after many months of protests, al-Bashir was removed from power by the Sudanese military and placed under house arrest. This ended his long time as leader of Sudan.

Post-presidency

Omar al-Bashir was moved to a prison in Khartoum in April 2019. He faced trials for corruption and handling large amounts of money wrongfully. In December 2019, he was found guilty of these charges and given a two-year prison sentence.

Later, in July 2020, a trial began about the coup that put him in power many years earlier. If found guilty, he could face serious consequences.

International Criminal Court

In November 2019, there were discussions about sending al-Bashir to a special court in The Hague to answer for serious actions during his time in power. In October 2020, officials in Sudan agreed to set up a special court to look into these actions.

Detention

In April 2023, because of fighting in Sudan, al-Bashir and some other former leaders were moved from prison to a hospital for safety. He was later moved again to another location. Reports say he has health problems related to his heart.