Abdel Rahman Swar al-Dahab

Abdel Rahman Suwar al-Dahab (otherwise known as Suwar al-Dahab or al-Dahab; 1 January 1934 – 18 October 2018) (Arabic: عبد الرحمن سوار الذهب) was a Sudanese military officer who served as the Head of State of Sudan from 6 April 1985, to 6 May 1986.

Field Marshal Abdel Rahman Suwar al-Dahab
عبد الرحمن سوار الذهب
Suwar al-Dahab in the 1980s
Chairman of the Transitional Military Council
In office 6 April 1985 – 6 May 1986
Deputy	Taj el-Deen Abdallah Fadl
Preceded by	Gaafar Nimeiry as President
Succeeded by	Ahmad al-Mirghani as Chairman of the Supreme Council
Minister of Defence
In office 3 March 1985 – 22 April 1985
Preceded by	Gaafar Nimeiry
Succeeded by	Othman Abdullah Muhammad
Personal details
Born	1 January 1934 Omdurman, Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
Died	18 October 2018(2018-10-18) (aged 83–84) Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Political party	None (military)
Military service
Allegiance	Republic of Sudan (1958–1969) Democratic Republic of Sudan (1969–1985) Sudan (1985–1986)
Branch/service	Sudanese Army
Years of service	1958–1986
Rank	Field marshal
Battles/wars	First Sudanese Civil War Second Sudanese Civil War

His full name has also been listed by the Sudanese Ministry of Defence as Abdul Rahman Muhammad Hassan Swar Al Thahab.^[1]

Biography

Suwar-Eldahab was born in 1934 in Omdurman, Sudan.^[2][3] He graduated from the Sudanese Military Academy, later attending military education courses in the United Kingdom, the United States, Egypt, and Jordan. He became a prominent figure when President Gaafar Nimeiry appointed him Chief of Staff, and then Minister of Defence and general commander of the armed forces in 1984.^[3]

In 1985, he launched a coup ousting President Gaafar Nimeiry^[4] leading to him becoming the Chairman of the Transitional Military Council. Following elections, he surrendered power to the government of head of state Ahmed al-Mirghani and prime minister Sadiq al-Mahdi in 1986.^[5]

In 1987, he became Chairman of the Islamic Call Organization.^[6][7]

In 2004, he received the King Faisal International Prize for his service to Islam. He died on 18 October 2018 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia of natural causes.^[8]

In literature and the arts

• Dave Eggers's 2006 novel “What is the What” recounts his use of Arab militia, notably the Baggara, in the origins of the Second Sudanese Civil War.