Bakri Hassan Saleh

Bakri Hassan Saleh (; born 1949) is a Sudanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Sudan from March 2017 until September 2018 (the first in almost 28 years) and as First Vice President of Sudan from December 2013 until February 2019, when he was dismissed.

Life and career Saleh was born in the village of Hafir Meshou, north of Dongola. He attended Al-Hafir primary school, and later moved to Al-Barqeeq Central School to receive his Mediterranean education. He studied at Dongola secondary school from 1964 to 1968. He graduated from the Sudanese Military Academy with the rank of Lieutenant in 1973. He served as the commander of the Special Forces from 1985 to 1987 and again from 1988 to 1989.

As an army officer, Saleh took part in the June 1989 military coup that brought Omar al-Bashir to power, and he served as a member on the Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation, which governed Sudan following the coup. Saleh held prominent positions in the Sudanese security agencies.

In 2012 he was appointed as Deputy Secretary-General of the Islamic Movement. Saleh has been rumoured as a possible successor to Omar al-Bashir.

On 1 March 2017, he was appointed by President Omar al-Bashir as Sudan's first Prime Minister since the post was abolished in 1989. The post of Prime Minister was re-established with limited powers, while most power remained in the hands of the President. As Prime Minister, Saleh retained his post as First Vice President. He was sworn in as Prime Minister on 2 March. Two months later, on 11 May, Saleh announced the composition of the new government, which had 31 ministers and 44 secretaries of state.

After Bashir was overthrown in 2019, Saleh was imprisoned and tried over his role in the 1989 coup. However, this was halted following the outbreak of the Sudanese civil war (2023–present). In 2024, he was transferred from Wadi Seidna Air Base to Merowe, where he was hospitalised due to poor health. He was ordered released on the same grounds by Sudanese authorities in April 2025.