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) was a Sudanese military officer who served as the Head of State of Sudan from 6 April 1985, to 6 May 1986.

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

Biography Suwar-Eldahab was born in 1934 in Omdurman, Sudan. 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. 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.

In 1987, he became Chairman of the Islamic Call Organization.

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.

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.