Sadiq al-Mahdi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sadiq al-Mahdi
الصادق المهدي |
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al-Mahdi in 1964
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| 7th Prime Minister of Sudan | |
| In office 6 May 1986 – 30 June 1989 |
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| President | Ahmed al-Mirghani |
| Preceded by | Al-Jazuli Daf'allah |
| Succeeded by | Bakri Hassan Saleh (2017) |
| In office 27 July 1966 – 18 May 1967 |
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| President | Ismail al-Azhari |
| Preceded by | Muhammad Ahmad Mahgoub |
| Succeeded by | Muhammad Ahmad Mahgoub |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 25 December 1935 Al-Abasya, Anglo-Egyptian Sudan |
| Died | 26 November 2020 (aged 84) Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates |
| Political party | National Umma Party |
| Relations | Abd al-Rahman al-Mahdi (grandfather) Hadi al-Mahdi (uncle) |
| Children | Siddig, Bushra, Ribah, Mariam |
| Parents | Al-Siddiq al-Mahdi Rahma Abdullah Jadallah |
Sadiq al-Mahdi (Arabic: الصادق المهدي, romanized: aṣ-Ṣādiq al-Mahdī; 25 December 1935 – 26 November 2020) was an important political and religious leader in Sudan. He served as the Prime Minister of Sudan two times. His first time was from 1966 to 1967, and his second was from 1986 to 1989.
Sadiq al-Mahdi was the head of the National Umma Party. He was also the spiritual leader, or Imam, of the Ansar. The Ansar is a religious group that follows the teachings of Muhammad Ahmad. Muhammad Ahmad lived from 1844 to 1885 and was known as the Mahdi, a special leader in Islam.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Sadiq al-Mahdi was born on 25 December 1935. His birthplace was Al-Abasya, a part of Omdurman, in Sudan.
He came from a very important family in Sudan. His grandfather was Sayyid Abd al-Rahman al-Mahdi, who started the Umma Party. His great-grandfather was Muhammad Ahmad, the Mahdi, who led a big war called the Mahdist War. This war was fought to free Sudan from British and Egyptian rule.
Sadiq al-Mahdi was married two times and had ten children. One of his sons, Siddig, is now a leader in the National Umma Party. His daughter, Mariam, is also a leader in the same party.
Political Journey
Sadiq al-Mahdi became the Prime Minister of Sudan on two separate occasions. He first held the position for a short time in 1966–67. His second term was from 1986 until he was removed from power on 30 June 1989.
First Time as Prime Minister (1966–1967)
After the elections in 1965, two main parties, the National Umma Party and the National Unionist Party, decided to work together. This is called a coalition government. Muhammad Ahmad Mahgoub from the Umma Party became Prime Minister. However, this partnership did not last long.
In July 1966, Prime Minister Mahgoub resigned after a vote in parliament. This caused a split in the Umma Party. Sadiq al-Mahdi led one part of the party that wanted to work with the National Unionist Party. Because Sadiq's group was larger, he became the new Prime Minister.
Sadiq wanted to help different parts of Sudan grow. He also wanted the southern areas to have more control over their own affairs. But many educated people and army officers in Sudan did not like these ideas. In May 1967, Sadiq lost the support of the parties he was working with. So, Mahgoub returned as Prime Minister.
In Opposition (1967–1986)
In 1969, a military leader named Jaafar Nimeiry took control of Sudan through a sudden takeover, known as a coup d'état. After this, Sadiq was put in prison many times by Nimeiry. He eventually left Sudan and lived in another country starting in 1974.
While living abroad, Sadiq created a group called the National Front. This group was against Nimeiry's government. In 1977, Sadiq and Nimeiry made an agreement. This agreement led to the release of many political prisoners. It also allowed Sadiq to return to Sudan safely. He then started to build up opposition against Nimeiry's government.
Second Time as Prime Minister (1986–1989)
After the elections in 1986, Sadiq al-Mahdi formed another coalition government. This time, his Umma Party worked with several other parties. However, this government was not very stable. This made it hard for Sadiq to keep his promises. He had promised to end the Second Sudanese Civil War and fix Sudan's money problems.
On 30 June 1989, Sadiq's government was overthrown in another military coup. This takeover was led by Brigadier Omar al-Bashir. After this, the job of Prime Minister of Sudan was ended.
After the 1989 Coup
Even after being removed from power, Sadiq continued to lead the Umma Party. He was still against Omar al-Bashir's government. He spent some time living outside Sudan again. But he returned to Sudan in November 2000.
Sadiq ran for president in the 2010 elections but did not win. In 2014, the government claimed Sadiq was working with rebels, so he had to leave Sudan and go to Egypt. He came back to Khartoum, Sudan, on 26 January 2017.
In April 2019, Omar al-Bashir was also removed from power by a military takeover. This happened after many months of large protests by the people of Sudan. Sadiq supported these protests. He said his party would not be part of any future temporary government. He also believed that Sudan should work with the International Criminal Court. In May 2019, Sadiq announced that he would no longer run for elections.
Death
On 26 November 2020, Sadiq al-Mahdi passed away. He had been sick with COVID-19. He was in a hospital in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, for almost a month before he died.
Books and Ideas
Sadiq al-Mahdi wrote many scholarly and political books. Some of his books include The Southern Question (1964) and Democracy in Sudan: Will Return and Triumph (1990).
He is also remembered for his ideas about religion. He wanted to find new ways of thinking about Islamic law, called shari‘a. He believed it could be updated to fit the needs of the modern world. A history professor named Albert Hourani described Sadiq's ideas as both "responsible but bold."
Education
- He earned a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in philosophy and economics from Oxford University.
- He also received a Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree in politics from Oxford University.
See also
In Spanish: Sadiq al-Mahdi para niños
- First Sudanese Civil War (1955-1972) – A conflict between North and South Sudan.
- Second Sudanese Civil War (1983-2005) – A continuation of the first civil war.
- Darfur Conflict (since 2003) – An ongoing conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan.
Images for kids
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Sadiq al-Mahdi in 1987
