Khalil was born on 1 January in 1935 in El-Obeid.^[1] He was educated at the Military College of Sudan. He became the commander of Port Sudan military zone.^[1]

During the Nimeiry era, Khalil was First Vice President, a general of the army, Minister of Defense, commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and secretary general of the Sudanese Socialist Union.^[2], and regarded as the Nimeiry's heir apparent. He was appointed Minister of Defense from 28 May 1979^[1] to 25 January 1982.^[1] He was First Vice President of Gaafar Nimeiry from June 1979^[3] to 25 January 1982.^[4] Nimeiry forced him to retire on 25 January 1982, and reportedly put him under house arrest.^[5]

After Nimeiry was ousted, during the civilian government of Prime Minister Sadiq al-Mahdi, Khalil was again appointed Minister of Defense from 15 May 1988 to February 1989. He resigned to protest the civilian government's procrastination. His resignation was a key event in the government's collapse.^[6]^[7] He was a supporter of Addis Abeba Peace Agreement to resolve the civil war in Southern Sudan, even though his plane was hit by a rebel SAM-7 ground-to-air missile in November 1988.^[8] Despite his links with Nimeiry, he was widely respected as a person not tainted by the Nimeiry-era corruption.^[9]

He died in April 2021 due to an illness.^[1]

Biography

References