Omar al-Bashir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Omar al-Bashir
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عمر البشير
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Al-Bashir in 2009
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| 4th President of Sudan | |
| In office 16 October 1993 – 11 April 2019 |
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| Prime Minister |
See list
Bakri Hassan Saleh
Motazz Moussa Mohamed Tahir Ayala |
| Vice President |
See list
First Vice Presidents
Zubair Mohamed Salih Ali Osman Taha John Garang Salva Kiir Mayardit Ali Osman Taha Bakri Hassan Saleh Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf Second Vice Presidents George Kongor Arop Moses Kacoul Machar Ali Osman Taha Al-Haj Adam Youssef Hassabu Mohamed Abdalrahman Osman Mohamed Yousif Kibir |
| Preceded by | Himself as Chairman of the RCC |
| Succeeded by | Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf (as Chairman of the Transitional Military Council) |
| Chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation | |
| In office 30 June 1989 – 16 October 1993 |
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| Deputy | Zubair Mohamed Salih |
| Preceded by | Ahmed al-Mirghani (as President) |
| Succeeded by | Himself as President |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir
1 January 1944 Hosh Bannaga, Anglo-Egyptian Sudan |
| Political party | National Congress Party (1992–2019) |
| Spouses | Fatima Khalid Widad Babiker Omer |
| Alma mater | Egyptian Military College |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Sudan |
| Branch/service | Sudanese Army |
| Years of service | 1960–2019 |
| Rank |  Field Marshal |
| Battles/wars |
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| Criminal details | |
| Criminal status | Claimed by ICC |
| Conviction(s) | Money laundering Corruption |
| Criminal penalty | Two years in prison |
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Date apprehended
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17 April 2019 |
| Imprisoned at | Incarcerated at the Kobar Prison, Khartoum, Sudan |
Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir (born 1 January 1944) is a former military officer and politician from Sudan. He was Sudan's leader from 1989 until 2019. He came to power in 1989 through a military takeover. At the time, he was a brigadier general in the Sudanese Army. He removed the elected government and became the head of state.
Al-Bashir was elected president three times, but these elections were often seen as unfair. In 1992, he started the National Congress Party, which was the main political party in Sudan until 2019. In 2009, he became the first sitting head of state to be accused by the International Criminal Court (ICC). They accused him of serious actions against civilians in Darfur. In 2020, Sudan's government agreed to hand him over to the ICC for trial.
In 2005, al-Bashir's government helped end the Second Sudanese Civil War. This led to a vote in southern Sudan, which resulted in South Sudan becoming a separate country. In Darfur, he was in charge during the War in Darfur. This conflict caused many deaths and forced over 2.5 million people to leave their homes.
In 2008, the ICC accused al-Bashir of very serious international crimes in Darfur. An arrest warrant was issued for him in 2009 for war crimes and crimes against humanity. A second warrant in 2010 added charges of trying to destroy certain groups of people. Sudan's government did not accept these warrants or the ICC's authority. Many countries, especially in Africa and the Arab world, also opposed the ICC's decision.
Starting in December 2018, large protests in Sudan demanded al-Bashir's removal. On 11 April 2019, the military removed him from power. He was then put in prison and later found guilty of corruption. His trial for his role in the 1989 takeover began in 2020.
Early Life and Family
Al-Bashir was born in Hosh Bannaga, a village near Khartoum, Sudan. His family had both African and Arab roots. As a child, he was called 'Omeira', meaning 'Little Omar'. He loved playing soccer, always as a defender. A cousin said this is why he joined the army.
He went to primary school in his village. Later, his family moved to Khartoum North, where he finished high school. He is married to his cousin, Fatima Khalid. He also has a second wife, Widad Babiker Omer, who had children from her first marriage. Al-Bashir does not have any children of his own.
In 1975, al-Bashir was sent to the United Arab Emirates as a Sudanese military representative. When he came back, he became a commander of a military base. In 1981, he became the leader of an armored parachute brigade.
Becoming President
Military Takeover in 1989
In 1989, as a colonel in the Sudanese Army, al-Bashir led a group of officers. They took over the government from Prime Minister Sadiq al-Mahdi without violence. This happened on 30 June 1989.
Under al-Bashir, the new military government stopped political parties. They also started using Islamic law across the country. He became the head of a new group called the Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation. This group had law-making and executive powers for a short time. He also became the head of state, prime minister, and head of the armed forces.
Al-Bashir then worked with Hassan al-Turabi, a leader of the National Islamic Front. Together, they made Islamic law a bigger part of Sudan's system. Al-Bashir also removed and punished people he thought were against him in the army. He banned groups, political parties, and independent newspapers. Many political figures and journalists were put in prison.
On 16 October 1993, al-Bashir made himself President of Sudan. He then got rid of the Revolutionary Command Council and all other political parties. All power from the council was given to him. In the early 1990s, his government introduced a new currency, the Sudanese dinar. He was later elected president in 1996. He was the only candidate allowed to run.
Presidential Elections
Omar al-Bashir was elected president in 1996 for a five-year term. In 1998, al-Bashir and his committee created a new constitution. This allowed some political groups to form, even if they were against his National Congress Party.
On 12 December 1999, al-Bashir sent troops to parliament. He removed Hassan al-Turabi, who was the speaker of parliament, in a sudden power shift.
He was re-elected president in 2000.
From 2005 to 2010, a temporary government was set up. This was part of a peace agreement that ended the 21-year Second Sudanese Civil War. Power was shared between Salva Kiir's Sudan People's Liberation Movement and al-Bashir's National Congress Party.
Al-Bashir was re-elected president in 2010 with 68% of the votes. These elections were part of the 2005 peace deal. However, observers from Europe and the Carter Center said the elections were unfair. They mentioned problems like corruption and threats.
Sudan saw economic growth during al-Bashir's presidency, helped by oil production. But this growth was not shared by everyone. Prices for goods went up a lot, and the value of Sudan's money went down. This caused protests and strikes by workers who wanted higher wages.
Disagreements with Hassan al-Turabi
In the mid-1990s, al-Bashir and al-Turabi started to disagree. This was mainly because al-Turabi had ties to Islamic groups and allowed them to operate in Sudan. He even invited Osama bin Laden to the country.
The United States had listed Sudan as a country supporting terrorism since 1993. This was mostly because al-Bashir and al-Turabi took full power. In 1997, U.S. companies were not allowed to do business in Sudan. In 1998, a factory in Khartoum was bombed by the U.S. because it was thought to be making chemical weapons and linked to al-Qaeda. However, later reports questioned this link.
After being re-elected president in 1996, al-Bashir allowed political parties to register in 1999. Rival parties were formed and allowed to run against his National Congress Party. But they did not get much support. Al-Bashir was re-elected president in 2000. His party also won most seats in the parliament.
However, when al-Turabi tried to reduce the president's powers, al-Bashir dissolved parliament. He declared a state of emergency. Al-Turabi was suspended from the National Congress Party. He then formed a new party and signed an agreement with a rebel group. Al-Bashir believed they were plotting to overthrow him.
Al-Turabi's influence decreased. Sudan then tried to improve its relationship with the United States by expelling members of some groups and encouraging bin Laden to leave.
Al-Bashir ordered al-Turabi to be imprisoned in 2000 for alleged plotting. He was released in 2003, then imprisoned again in 2004, and released in 2005.
Relations with Other Countries
In the early 1990s, Sudan supported Iraq during its invasion of Kuwait. Sudan was also accused of helping Islamic groups. People like Carlos the Jackal and Osama bin Laden lived in Khartoum. Sudan's links with these groups worried the American government. This led to the U.S. closing its embassy in Khartoum in 1996.
In 1994, al-Bashir secretly worked with French forces to capture Carlos the Jackal in Sudan. In 1996, al-Bashir allowed his Defense Minister to secretly meet with U.S. officials. They discussed how Sudan could get rid of American sanctions. The U.S. asked for information about Osama bin Laden and other groups. In May 1996, the U.S. asked Sudan to expel Bin Laden, and Bashir agreed.
There was some debate about whether Sudan offered to hand over bin Laden in exchange for the U.S. ending sanctions. American officials said they only wanted Sudan to follow anti-terrorism rules. Sudanese officials said they offered to hand over bin Laden to a third country if sanctions were lifted.
In 1997, al-Bashir sent a letter to a U.S. Congressman, offering help with counter-terrorism. But soon after, the U.S. imposed even tougher economic sanctions on Sudan. In 1998, after embassy bombings in East Africa, the U.S. launched missile strikes against Khartoum. The U.S. Ambassador to Sudan left in 1996, and a new one was not appointed until 2019.
In 2015, al-Bashir said he would go to New York to speak at the United Nations. It was not clear if he would be allowed to travel due to the sanctions.
South Sudan's Independence
When al-Bashir took power, the Second Sudanese Civil War had been going on for nine years. This war was mainly between the Sudan People's Liberation Army and al-Bashir's government. Millions of people in the south were forced to leave their homes, starved, and lacked education and healthcare. Almost two million people died. Because of this, many countries placed sanctions on Sudan.
International pressure grew in 2001. The United Nations asked al-Bashir to end the conflict and allow aid workers to help southern Sudan. Much progress was made in 2003. A peace agreement was signed on 9 January 2005. This gave Southern Sudan self-rule for six years. After that, they would have a vote on independence.
The agreement also created a co-vice president position and allowed the north and south to share oil profits. John Garang, the co-vice president for the south, died in a helicopter crash in August 2005. This caused riots, but peace was restored. On 9 July 2011, after a vote, Southern Sudan became the independent country of South Sudan.
Conflict in Darfur
Since 1968, politicians in Sudan had tried to divide people in Darfur into "Africans" and "Arabs." This was hard because many people were mixed and looked similar. Conflicts with Chad and Libya and a famine in 1984–1985 made things worse. In 2003, two rebel groups, the Justice and Equality Movement and the Sudanese Liberation Army, started fighting. They said the government was ignoring Darfur and favoring Arabs over non-Arabs.
Estimates vary on how many people died from attacks by the Janjaweed militia. The Sudanese government said about 10,000 people died. The United Nations reported about 300,000 deaths by 2010. Other reports suggest between 200,000 and 400,000 deaths. Al-Bashir himself said no more than 10,000 had died.
The Sudanese government was accused of hiding information by jailing and killing witnesses. They were also accused of covering up mass graves. Journalists were arrested, limiting news coverage of the situation. The United States government called the conflict a "genocide," but the UN did not officially use that term.
In September 2004, the U.S. government stated that "genocide has been committed in Darfur." They said the Government of Sudan and the Janjaweed were responsible. In June 2004, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell met al-Bashir. He urged him to make peace and allow humanitarian aid into Darfur. Three days later, Kofi Annan also met al-Bashir and demanded he disarm the Janjaweed.
After fighting stopped in July and August 2006, the United Nations Security Council approved a resolution for a new UN peacekeeping force. This force, called United Nations–African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), would have 17,300 military personnel. Sudan strongly opposed this and said it would see UN forces as "foreign invaders." A day later, the Sudanese military launched a major attack in the region.
In March 2007, the United Nations Human Rights Council accused Sudan's government of "gross violations" in Darfur. They urged the world to act quickly to protect people there.
In 2009, General Martin Luther Agwai, head of UNAMID, said the war in Darfur was over. He said only small local disputes remained. However, other reports said violence continued. Fighting between Sudan's military and rebels also happened in other states.
In 2012, tensions between Sudan and South Sudan increased. The Sudanese military bombed areas in South Sudan, leading to fighting over oil fields. Al-Bashir sought help from non-Western countries like China, Malaysia, and India. He said this was because Western countries had put sanctions on Sudan.
In 2010, Chadian President Idriss Déby visited Khartoum. Chad then stopped supporting Darfuri rebels. Sudan and Chad also started joint military patrols along their border.
On 26 October 2011, al-Bashir said Sudan had given military support to the Libyan rebels. These rebels overthrew Muammar Gaddafi. Al-Bashir said this was in response to Gaddafi supporting Sudanese rebels three years earlier. He claimed that 100% of the weapons and supplies used by forces entering Tripoli were Sudanese.
Al-Bashir said his government's main goal was to end fighting and tribal conflicts. He wanted young people to build Sudan instead of fighting. He asked rebel youth to stop fighting and help build the country. Al-Bashir sees himself as misunderstood. He accepts responsibility for the Darfur conflict but says his government did not start it and has tried to end it.
Al-Bashir signed two peace agreements for Darfur:
- The 2006 Darfur Peace Agreement was signed by the government and one part of the SLA. But two other groups rejected it.
- The 2011 Darfur Peace Agreement, also known as the "Doha Agreement," was signed in July 2011. This agreement created a fund for victims and allowed the president to appoint a vice-president from Darfur. It also set up a new Darfur Regional Authority.
ICC Indictment and Response
On 14 July 2008, the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Luis Moreno Ocampo, accused al-Bashir. He said al-Bashir was responsible for very serious international crimes in Darfur since 2003. The ICC issued an arrest warrant for him. This warrant was supported by NATO and Amnesty International.
The court initially said there was not enough evidence to charge him with genocide. However, a judge disagreed, saying there were "reasonable grounds to believe that Omar Al Bashir has committed the crime of genocide."
Sudan is not a member of the treaty that created the ICC. So, Sudan claims it does not have to follow the warrant. But the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1593 (2005) referred Sudan to the ICC. This means the court has authority over international crimes in Sudan. Therefore, the court and groups like Amnesty International say Sudan must cooperate. Amnesty International stated that al-Bashir must surrender to face the charges.
Al-Bashir was the first sitting head of state ever accused by the ICC. However, the Arab League and the African Union criticized the warrant. After the accusation, al-Bashir visited many countries. These included China, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Saudi Arabia. None of these countries arrested him. Even Chad, an ICC member, did not arrest him during a visit in 2010.
In 2011, a Kenyan judge ordered al-Bashir's arrest if he entered Kenya again. In 2015, while in South Africa for a meeting, al-Bashir was stopped from leaving. A court was deciding if he should be handed over to the ICC. However, he was allowed to leave soon after.
The charges against al-Bashir have been criticized in Sudan and other countries. Former Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi called the accusation a form of terrorism. Egypt was "greatly disturbed" and asked for a UN Security Council meeting to delay the arrest warrant. The Arab League expressed support for Sudan. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation called the warrant unfair.
Al-Bashir rejected the charges. He said, "Whoever has visited Darfur... will know that all of these things are lies." He called the charges "not worth the ink they are written in." The Sudanese government said they would not carry out the warrant.
The Sudanese government reacted by expelling several international aid agencies. These included Oxfam and Mercy Corps. President Bashir called the aid agencies "thieves" and "spies." He promised that national agencies would provide aid to Darfur.
Al-Bashir was a candidate in the 2010 Sudanese presidential election. This was the first democratic election with many political parties since 1986. Some thought he hoped to avoid the ICC warrant by winning a fair election. On 26 April, he was declared the winner with 68% of the votes. However, The New York Times reported that the voting had problems like boycotts and fraud.
In August 2013, al-Bashir's plane was blocked from entering Saudi Arabian airspace. He was trying to attend the inauguration of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.
A second arrest warrant for al-Bashir was issued on 12 July 2010. The ICC added three more charges related to trying to destroy the Fur, Masalit, and Zaghawa tribes. These new charges included "genocide by killing" and "genocide by causing serious harm." The new warrant added to the first one, including the crime of genocide.
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Al-Bashir said Sudan is not part of the ICC treaty. He argued that it is a political issue because other clear crimes, like those in Palestine, Iraq, and Afghanistan, were not brought to the ICC. He accused the ICC prosecutor of lying to harm his reputation. He also mentioned that the prosecutor claimed he had $9 billion in a British bank, which was denied by the bank and the British finance minister.
In October 2013, some members of the African Union were angry at the ICC. They called it "racist" for only charging African suspects and not Western leaders. The African Union demanded that the ICC protect African heads of state.
Military Action in Yemen
In 2015, Sudan joined the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen. This was against the Shia Houthis and forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh. Some reports suggested that the war in Yemen gave al-Bashir a chance to show powerful Sunni countries that he could be an ally against Iranian influence.
Corruption Claims
During the Second Sudanese Civil War, it was claimed that Al-Bashir took a lot of money from Sudan. Leaked U.S. diplomatic messages suggested that $9 billion of this money was in banks in London. The ICC prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, said some funds were in Lloyds Banking Group. He also reportedly told U.S. officials that revealing the amount of money al-Bashir took would turn public opinion against him.
A leaked diplomatic message claimed al-Bashir had taken $9 billion in state funds. However, Lloyds Bank said it knew nothing about any link with Bashir. A Sudanese government spokesman called the claim "ludicrous." Al-Bashir himself denied the claim about the $9 billion in a British bank. The arrest warrant actually increased public support for al-Bashir in Sudan.
Part of an $8.9 billion fine paid by BNP Paribas bank for breaking sanctions was related to its trade with Sudan. U.S. officials said BNP was very uncooperative and called it Sudan's de facto central bank.
African Space Agency Idea
In 2012, al-Bashir suggested creating a space agency for all of Africa. He said, "Africa must have its space agency... [It] will free Africa from technological control." This idea followed earlier calls from the African Union in 2010 to study how to create such an agency. Africa's astronomy efforts got a big boost when South Africa was chosen to host most of the Square Kilometre Array, the world's largest radio telescope. However, some people wondered if a continent-wide space agency would be too expensive.
Removal from Power
On 11 April 2019, the Sudanese Armed Forces removed al-Bashir from his position. This happened after many months of protests. He was immediately placed under house arrest. At the time, al-Bashir had been Sudan's longest-serving leader since its independence in 1956. He was also the longest-ruling president in the Arab League. The army also ordered the arrest of all his ministers. They dissolved the parliament and formed a Transitional Military Council. This council was led by his First Vice President, Lieutenant General Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf.
After Presidency
On 17 April 2019, al-Bashir was moved from house arrest to Kobar Prison in Khartoum. On 13 May 2019, prosecutors accused him of "inciting and participating in" the killing of protesters. A trial for corruption and money laundering began in the following months. This was after $130 million was found in his home. On 14 December 2019, he was found guilty of money laundering and corruption. He was sentenced to two years in prison.
On 21 July 2020, his trial began regarding the military takeover that brought him to power. About 20 military personnel were also accused for their roles in the takeover. On 20 December 2022, al-Bashir said he was fully responsible for the events of 30 June 1989. The trial is expected to continue for several more months. If found guilty, Bashir could face a death sentence.
Detention Details
On 26 April 2023, the Sudanese Armed Forces stated that al-Bashir and other former officials were moved from Kobar Prison. They were taken to Alia Military Hospital in Omdurman due to the conflict that started that month. Al-Bashir and others were later moved to a hospital at Wadi Seidna Air Base. They stayed there until September 2024, when they were transferred to a facility in Merowe. Al-Bashir is reported to have heart problems.
See also
In Spanish: Omar Hasán Ahmad al Bashir para niños
- Politics of Sudan
- History of Sudan
