The Sudanese Revolution of October 1964

Abstract

About 70 years ago, the Mahdist or Ansār state, in many ways a traditional Muslim government, crumbled under the fire of the Anglotional Egyptian cannons. On the condominium government that followed fell the task of pacifying the country and introducing western concepts of administration. All Sudanese attempts to defy foreign domination had failed completely by 1924. The British, the stronger of the two partners, had the lion's share in shaping the destiny of the country. Towards the end of World War II, the influential and educated Sudanese, like other Africans and Asians, demanded the right of self-determination. In 1946, in preparation for this, a sample of western democracy was introduced in the form of an Advisory Council. This Council, which was restricted to the northern Sudan, was followed two years later by the Legislative Assembly, which had slightly more powers. Although these democratic innovations were quite alien to the country and were introduced at a relatively late date, they were in keeping with traditional institutions. Until recently, the Sudan consisted of a number of tribal units where no classes or social distinctions existed and the tribal chief was no more than the first among equals; the people were therefore not accustomed to autocratic rule.

Surviving revolution and democratisation: the Sudan armed forces, state fragility and security competition

“…Unlike many other African armies (Welch 1986; Parsons 2003: 5–17), its roots as a colonial force did not preclude a significant share of its officer corps being non-white prior to 1956: the resultant sense of exceptionalism and historical duty only strengthened its feelings of entitlement. Moreover, contrary to most African armed forces (usually considered inexperienced and highly ineffective in combat; Herbst 2004), SAF was compelled to fight from day one (Hasan 1967). Sudan became independent amidst a civil war (1956–72) and since 1983, it uninterruptedly fought wars across its territory – east, centre, south and west – until the 2020 Juba Peace Agreements.…”