Omar al-Bashir

Omar al-Bashir, born on January 1, 1944, is a former Sudanese military officer and politician who held power as the head of state from 1989 until his ousting in 2019. His rise to power began with a military coup that he led as a brigadier general, supported by the National Islamic Front, which overthrew the democratically elected government of Prime Minister Sadiq al-Mahdi. Following this coup, al-Bashir replaced President Ahmed al-Mirghani and established himself as a dominant political figure in Sudan.

Throughout his presidency, al-Bashir faced numerous allegations of electoral fraud during the elections in which he was elected three times. In 1998, he founded the National Congress Party, which became the ruling party until his removal. His administration was marked by significant conflict, particularly in the Darfur region, where he oversaw a brutal campaign that led to widespread violence and displacement, with death toll estimates ranging from two hundred thousand to four hundred thousand.

In March 2009, al-Bashir made history as the first sitting head of state to be indicted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the Darfur conflict. Despite the ICC's arrest warrants, al-Bashir's government did not recognize the court's authority. His regime faced increasing pressure from large-scale protests beginning in December 2018, culminating in his removal from power on April 11, 2019, through a military coup.

After his ousting, al-Bashir was imprisoned and faced multiple trials, including a conviction for corruption in December 2019, which resulted in a two-year prison sentence. The Sudanese government announced plans to transfer him to the ICC for trial, marking a significant turn in his tumultuous political career.