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KHARTOUM: Sudan’s last democratically elected prime minister, Sadiq al-Mahdi, overthrown in the 1989 military coup that brought Omar al-Bashir to power, died of a coronavirus infection, his party said on Thursday, November 26.
Mahdi, 84, was hospitalized in the United Arab Emirates three weeks ago.
His moderate party, Umma, one of the largest opposition parties under Bashir, and Mahdi remained an influential figure even after Bashir’s overthrow in April 2019.
Sudan’s transitional administration, which governs from a power-sharing agreement between the army and civilian groups, has declared 3 days of mourning.
Last month, Mahdi’s family circle said he tested positive for COVID-19. He was transferred to the United Arab Emirates for treatment a few days later after a brief hospital stay in Sudan.
In a statement, the Umma party said Mahdi would be buried Friday morning in the sudanese town of Omdurman.
Mahdi had returned to Sudan in December 2018 after a year of self-exile, while protests against deteriorating economic situation and Bashir’s regime gained momentum. His daughter Mariam Sadiq al-Mahdi, deputy leader of the Umma party, was among those arrested in protests.
While the successor to party leadership has still been announced, she has been the party’s top visual leader in political negotiations and the media in recent years.
Opposition parties have weakened particularly under Bashir’s rule for 3 decades and are forcipowering the military’s transition to Sudan, making continued unity of the Umma party very important in maintaining the balance of forces.
After the overthrow of Bashir through the army, Mahdi lobbied for a civilian regime.