The Sudan
 

1820/22 - 26 Jan 1885 1885 - 2 Sep 1898 Mahdist Flag 2 Sep 1898 - 1 Jan 1956 Joint Flag (U.K.) 19 Jan 1899  - 1 Jan 1956 Anglo-Egyptian Sudan Governor-general's Flag 19 Jan 1899  - 10 Dec 1923 Joint Flag (Egypt)    10 Dec 1923 - 1 Jan 1956 Joint Flag (Egypt)   1955 - 1 Jan 1956  Interim Local Flag 1 Jan 1956 - 20 May 1970 Adopted 20 May 1970 Map of Sudan Hear National Anthem "Nahnu Djundulla Djundulwatan" (We Are the Army of God and of Our Land)  Text of National Anthem Adopted 1956 Interim Constitution (6 Jul 2005) ------------------------------------- Former Constitutions (1 Jul 1998 - 6 Jul 2005; 10 Oct 1985 - 30 Jun 1989; 12 Apr 1973 - 6 Apr 1985) Capital: Khartoum (Khartoum 1821-1885; Mahdiya: Omdurman 1885-1899; El-Obeid 1885-1885) Currency: Sudanese Pound (SDG) 1957-1992, 2007-; Sudanese Dinar (SDD) 1992-9 Jan 2007  National Holiday: 1 Jan (1956) Eid al-Istiklaal (Independence Day) Population: 49,197,555 (2023) GDP: $167.4 billion (2022) Exports: $5.9 billion (2022) Imports: $11.6 billion (2022) Ethnic groups: Sudanese Arab (approximately 70%), Fur, Beja, Nuba, Ingessana, Uduk, Fallata, Masalit, Dajo, Gimir, Tunjur, Berti; there are over 500 ethnic groups Total Active Armed Forces: 104,300 (2021) UN Abyei Force (UNISFA): 3,156 (Feb. 2023) Merchant marine: 14 ships (2023) Religions: Sunni Muslim, small Christian minority International Organizations/Treaties: ABEDA, ACP, AfCFTA (signatory), AfDB, AFESD, AIIB (nonregional), AL, AMF, AOAD, APM, Arabsat, AU (suspended), BTWC, CAEU, COMESA, CTBT, CWC, ESCR, FAO, G-77, GAFTA, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, ICSID, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (suspended), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU (suspended), IRENA, ISA, ISESCO, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, NPT, NTBT, OIC, OPCW, OPEC (cooperation), PCA, UN, UNCLOS, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFCC, UNFCC-KP, UNFCC-PA, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer) The Sudan Index Chronology c. 1070 BC – c. 550 AD      Kingdom of Kush (Ku'sh), also called Numbia and                              sometimes called Meroë after its final capital. c.450 - c.650              Nobatia (Nobatae) kingdom (merged with Makuria). c.569 - 1501               Kingdom of Alodia (Alwa)(joined with Makuria in                              personal union c.1155-1190). c.650 - 1518               Kingdom of Makuria (al-Muqurra)(Dongola abandoned                              in 1365). 1517                       Most of Lower Nubia annexed to Mamluk Egypt. 20 Jul 1820                Egypt under Muhammad Ali begins conquest of The                              Sudan (Dongala 23 Sep 1820, Shayqiyya 4 Nov 1820,                              Berber 5 Mar 1821, Khartoum area May 1821, Funj                              Sultanate of Sinnar 14 Jun 1821, and Kordofan on                              19 Aug 1821; later Kassala in 1840, the Upper                              White Nile around Fashoda 1855, Suakin and the                              Red Sea coast 1865, Equatoria 26 May 1871,                              Darfur 25 Oct 1874). 1821/1822                  Annexation by Egypt (nominally under Ottoman                              suzerainty. This era is called Turkish Sudan                              or the "Turkiyya" [at-Turkiyyah]). 1821                       Khartoum (Khartum) founded by Ismail Pasha son of                              Muhammad Ali. 16 Jan 1858                Slavery abolished by firman of Khedive of Egypt. 25 Oct 1874                Darfur annexed by Egyptian Sudan. 29 Jun 1881                Mahdiya established (Mahdi's "emergence"). 13 Mar 1884 - 26 Jan 1885  Mahadist siege of Khartoum. 26 Jan 1885                Egyptian Sudan fully occupied by the Mahdiya (fall                              of Khartoum).  2 Sep 1898                Mahdiya extinguished by the U.K. 19 Jan 1899                Anglo-Egyptian Sudan (initially spelled "Soudan")                              (condominium of Egypt and U.K.). 24 Nov 1924                Egyptian troops and civil servants withdrawn.  4 Jul 1940 - 17 Jan 1941  Italy occupies Gallabat, Kassala, and Kurmak.  9 Jan 1954                Self-government granted by Egypt-U.K. agreement. 18 Aug 1955 - 27 Mar 1972  First Sudanese Civil War (Anyanya rebellion).  1 Jan 1956                Republic of The Sudan (Jumhuriyyat al-Sudan),                              independence. 25 May 1969                Democratic Republic of The Sudan (Jumhuriyyat                              al-Sudan al-Dimuqratiyya).  5 Jun 1983 -  9 Jan 2005  Second Sudanese Civil War (Southern rebellion                              against the Sudanese government). 15 Dec 1985                Republic of The Sudan (Jumhuriyyat al-Sudan).  9 Jul 2011                Independence of South Sudan.  1 Jan 2008 - 30 Jun 2021  African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in                              Darfur (UNAMID) deployed.  27 Jul 2011 -              United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei                              (UNISFA) deployed. States (from 1991) Provinces (1821-1889)  Traditional Polities Abyei Area Darfur Transitional Authority (2007-2016)  Map of Civil War 1983-2005 Historical Maps of Sudan

Egyptian Commanders-in-chief 
20 Jul 1820 -  2 Nov 1822  Prince Ismail Iskander Ali Kamil   (b. 1795 - d. 1822)
                             Pasha
Nov 1822 - 1825            Muhammad Bey Defterdar             (d. 1833)
Governors
1825 - 22 Apr 1826         'Uthman Bey al-Sharkas             (d. 1826)
1826 (months)              Mahu Urfali Bey                    (d. 1828)
1826 - 1836                Ali Khurshid Agha                  (b. c.1786 - d. 1845)
                             (from 1834, Ali Khurshid Pasha)
1836 (months)              .... (acting)
Governors-general (Hakimdar)
1836 - May 1839            Ali Khurshid Pasha                 (s.a.)
May 1839 - Oct 1844        Ahmed Pasha abu Udan               (d. 1844)
1844 - 1846                Ahmed Pasha al-Manikli             (b. c.1795 - d. 1862)
1846 - 1850                Khalid Khusraw Pasha     
1850 - Jan 1851            'Abd al-Latif Pasha                (b. c.1805 - d. 1883)
Jan 1851 - May 1852        Rüstem Pasha Çerkes                (d. 1852)
May 1852 - 1853            Ismail Haqqi Pasha abu Jabal       (b. 1818 - d. 1882)
1853 - 1854                Selim Saib Pasha al-Jazairli
Jul 1854 - Nov 1854        Ali Pasha Sirri al-Arnaut          (b. 1814 - d. 1866)
1854 - 1856                Ali Pasha al-Sharkas
1856                       Prince Muhammad Abdul Halim Pasha  (b. 1830 - d. 1894)
Governors
1856 - 1858                Arakil Bey al-Armani               (b. 1826 - d. 1858)
1858 - 1861                Hasan Salama Bey                   (d. 1861)
Jul 1861 - 1863            Muhammad Rasikh Bey                (b. c.1834 - d. 1883)
Governors-general 
1863 - 1865                Musa Hamdi Pasha                   (b. c.1800 - d. 1865)
1865 - Nov 1865            'Umar Fakhri Bey (acting)          (d. 1866)
Nov 1865 - 1866            Jafar Sadiq Pasha                  (b. 1805 - d. af.1884)
1866 -  5 Feb 1871         Jafar Mazhar Pasha                 (d. 1878)
 5 Feb 1871 - Oct 1872     Ahmed Mumtaz Pasha                 (b. c.1825 - d. 1874)
Oct 1872 - 1873            Edhem Pasha al-Arifi (acting)      (b. c.1816 - d. af.1872)
1873 - 18 May 1877         Ismail Pasha al-Ayyub              (d. 1884)
May 1877 - Dec 1879        Charles George Gordon Pasha        (b. 1833 - d. 1885)
                             (1st time)
Dec 1879 - Feb 1882        Muhammad Rauf Pasha                (b. c.1832 - d. 1888)
Feb 1882 - May 1882        Carl Christian Giegler Pasha       (b. 1844 - d. 1921)
                             (acting)
May 1882 - Mar 1883        'Abd al-Qadir Hilmi Pasha          (b. 1837 - d. 1908)
Mar 1883 -  5 Nov 1883     'Ala al-Din Siddiq Pasha           (d. 1883)
 5 Nov 1883 - Feb 1884     William Hicks Pasha                (b. 1830 - d. 1884)
Feb 1884 - 18 Feb 1884     Henry Watts Russell de Coëtlogon   (b. 1839 - d. 1908)
                             Pasha (acting)
18 Feb 1884 - 26 Jan 1885  Charles George Gordon Pasha        (s.a.)
                             (2nd time)
Mahdi ("the Guided One") 
29 Jun 1881 - 22 Jun 1885  Muhammad Ahmad al-Mahadi           (b. 1844 - d. 1885)
                            (= Muhammad Ahmad ibn al-Sayyid `Abd Allah)
Khalifa (title Khalifah al-Mahdi)
22 Jun 1885 -  2 Sep 1898  Abdullah (`Abd Allah) bin Muhammad (b. 1846 - d. 1899)
                             (continues in rebellion to 25 Nov 1899)
British Military Governor
 2 Sep 1898 - 19 Jan 1899  Horatio Herbert Kitchener,         (b. 1850 - d. 1916)
                             Baron Kitchener 
Governors-general
19 Jan 1899 - 22 Dec 1899  Horatio Herbert Kitchener,         (s.a.)
                             Baron Kitchener 
22 Dec 1899 - 31 Dec 1916  Sir Francis Reginald Wingate       (b. 1861 - d. 1953)
 1 Jan 1917 - 20 Nov 1924  Sir Lee Oliver Fitzmaurice Stack   (b. 1868 - d. 1924)
                             (acting to 1919)  
21 Nov 1924 -  5 Jan 1925  Wasey Sterry (acting)              (b. 1866 - d. 1955)
 5 Jan 1925 -  6 Jul 1926  Sir Geoffrey Francis Archer        (b. 1882 - d. 1964)
31 Oct 1926 - 10 Jan 1934  Sir John Loader Maffey             (b. 1877 - d. 1969)
10 Jan 1934 - 19 Oct 1940  Sir George Stewart Symes           (b. 1882 - d. 1962)
19 Oct 1940 -  8 Apr 1947  Sir Hubert Jervoise Huddleston     (b. 1880 - d. 1950)
 8 Apr 1947 - 29 Mar 1954  Sir Robert George Howe             (b. 1893 - d. 1981)
29 Mar 1954 - 12 Dec 1955  Sir Alexander Knox Helm            (b. 1893 - d. 1964)
12 Dec 1955 -  1 Jan 1956  Muhammad Ahmad Abu Rannat (acting) (b. 1902 - d. 1979)
Heads of State
 1 Jan 1956 - 17 Nov 1958  (First) Sovereignty Council
                           - 'Abd al-Fattah Muhammad          (b. 1903 - d. 1985)  Non-party
                               al-Maghribi
                           - Muhammad 'Uthman (Osman)         (b. 1896 - d. 1977)  Non-party
                               al-Dardiri
                           - Ahmad Muhammad Yasin             (b. 1913 - d. 2008)  NUP
                           - Ahmad Muhammad Salih             (b. 1898 - d. 1973)  Non-party
                           - Siricio Iro Wani                 (b. 1919 - d. 1985)  Non-party
President of the Supreme Council for the Armed Forces
17 Nov 1958 - 26 Oct 1964  Ibrahim 'Abbud                     (b. 1900 - d. 1983)  Mil
Heads of State
26 Oct 1964 - 15 Nov 1964  Ibrahim 'Abbud                     (s.a.)               Mil
15 Nov 1964 -  5 Dec 1964  Sirr al-Khatim al-Khalifa          (b. 1919 - d. 2006)  Non-party
                             al-Hasan (acting)
 5 Dec 1964 - 10 Jun 1965  (Second) Sovereignty Council
                           - 'Abd al-Halim Muhammad (1st time)(b. 1910 - d. 2009)  Umma
                              (president 1-30 Apr 1965)
                           - al-Tijani al-Mahi                (b. 1911 - d. 1970)  NUP
                              (president 1-28 Feb 1965)
                           - Mubarak al-Fadil Shaddad         (b. 1915 - d. 198.)  Non-party
                              (president 1-31 Jan 1965 and 1-10 Jun 1965)
                           - Ibrahim Yusuf Sulayman           (b. 1908 - d. 1982)  PDP
                              (to 31 May 1965; president 6-31 Dec 1964 and 1-31 May 1965)
                           - Luigi Adwok Bong Gicomeho        (b. 1929 - d. 2010)  SF
                              (1st time)(from 6 Dec 1964; president 1-31 Mar 1965)
10 Jun 1965 -  8 Jul 1965  (Third) Sovereignty Council
                           - Ismail Ahmad al-Azhari           (b. 1900 - d. 1969)  NUP
                             (president from 12 Jun 1965)
                           - Abdullah al-Fadil al-Mahdi       (b. 1892 - d. 1966)  Umma
                           - Luigi Adwok Bong Gicomeho        (s.a.)               SF
                              (2nd time)(to 14 Jun 1965)
                           - 'Abd al-Halim Muhammad (2nd time)(s.a.)               Mil
                           - Khidr Hamad                      (b. 1908 - d. 1970)  NUP
                           - Philemon Majok (from 5 Jul 1965) (b. 1905 - d. 1982)  NUP
President of the Supreme Council of State
 8 Jul 1965 - 25 May 1969  Ismail Ahmad al-Azhari             (s.a.)               NUP
Presidents of the Revolutionary Command Council
25 May 1969 - 19 Jul 1971  Jafar Muhammad al-Nimeiry          (b. 1930 - d. 2009)  Mil
                             (1st time)
19 Jul 1971 - 22 Jul 1971  Babikr al-Nur 'Uthman (Osman)      (b. 1935 - d. 1971)  Mil
                             (remained outside country)
19 Jul 1971 - 22 Jul 1971  Hashim al-'Atta                    (b. 1936 - d. 1971)  Mil
                             (acting for 'Uthman)
22 Jul 1971 - 12 Oct 1971  Jafar Muhammad al-Nimeiry          (s.a.)               Mil
                             (2nd time)
President
12 Oct 1971 -  6 Apr 1985  Jafar Muhammad al-Nimeiry          (s.a.)              Mil;1972 SSU
Commander-in-chief of the People's Armed Forces
 6 Apr 1985 -  9 Apr 1985  'Abd al-Rahman Suwar al-Dhahab     (b. 1934 - d. 2018)  Mil
President of the Transitional Military Council
 9 Apr 1985 -  6 May 1986  'Abd al-Rahman Suwar al-Dhahab     (s.a.)               Mil
President of the Sovereignty Council
 6 May 1986 - 30 Jun 1989  Ahmad 'Ali al-Mirghani             (b. 1941 - d. 2008)  DUP
President of the Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation
30 Jun 1989 - 16 Oct 1993  'Umar Hasan Ahmad al-Bashir        (b. 1944)            Mil
President
16 Oct 1993 - 11 Apr 2019  'Umar Hasan Ahmad al-Bashir        (s.a.)              Mil;1996 NCP
Presidents of the Transitional Military Council
11 Apr 2019 - 12 Apr 2019  Ahmad Awad ibn Auf                 (b. 1954)            Mil
12 Apr 2019 - 20 Aug 2019  'Abd al-Fattah 'Abd al-Rahman      (b. 1960)            Mil
                             Burhan
Head of State
20 Aug 2019 - 25 Oct 2021  (Fourth) Sovereignty Council
                           - 'Abd al-Fattah 'Abd al-Rahman    (s.a.)               Mil
                               Burhan (1st time)(president)
                           - Muhammad Hamdan Dagalo "Hemeti"  (b. 1975?)           Mil
                              (1st time)
                           - Yasser Abdul Rahman Hassan       (b. c.1962)          Mil
                               al-Atta (1st time)
                           - Shams al-Din al-Khabashi         (b. 1961)            Mil
                           - Ibrahim Jabir Karim (1st time)                        Mil
                           - Aisha Musa el-Said (f)           (b. c.1940)          FFC
                              (to 12 May 2021)
                           - Siddiq Tawer Kafi                (b. 1959)            HBS
                           - Muhammad al-Faki Suleiman        (b. 1979)            UR
                           - Hassan Sheikh Idris                                   Umma
                           - Muhammad Hasan Osman al-Ta'ishi  (b. 1973)            FFC
                           - Raja Nicola Issa Abdel-Masih (f) (b. c.1957)          Non-party
                              (1st time) 
                           - Taha Osman Ishaq                                      FFC
                           - Malik Agar (1st time)                                 SPLM-N/A
                              (from 8 Mar 2021)  
                           - El Hadi Idris (1st time)                              SLM-TC
                              (from 8 Mar 2021)   
                           - El Tahir Hajar (1st time)                             SLMJ-K
                              (from 8 Mar 2021)
Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces
25 Oct 2021 - 11 Nov 2021  'Abd al-Fattah 'Abd al-Rahman      (s.a.)               Mil
                             Burhan
Head of State
11 Nov 2021 -              (Fifth) Transitional Sovereignty Council
                           - 'Abd al-Fattah 'Abd al-Rahman    (s.a.)               Mil
                               Burhan (2nd time)(president)
                           - Muhammad Hamdan Dagalo "Hemeti"  (s.a.)               Mil
                               (2nd time) (to 19 May 2023)
                           - Yasser Abdul Rahman Hassan                            Mil
                               al-Atta (2nd time)
                           - Shams al-Din al-Khabashi         (s.a.)               Mil
                               (2nd time)
                           - Ibrahim Jabir Karim (2nd time)                        Mil
                           - Abdul Qassem Bortoum             (b. 1965?)
                               (to 5 Jul 2022)
                           - Salma Abdul Jabbar al-Mubarak
                               Musa (f)(to 5 Jul 2022)
                           - Youssef Gad Karim (to 5 Jul 2022)
                           - Abdul Baqi Abdul Qadir al-Zubair
                               (to 31 Dec 2021)
                           - Raja Nicola Issa Abdel-Masih (f) (s.a.)               Non-party
                               (2nd time) (to 5 Jul 2022)
                           - Malik Agar (2nd time)                                 SPLM-N/A
                           - El Hadi Idris (2nd time)                              SLM-TC
                              (to 3 Nov 2023)  
                           - El Tahir Hajar (2nd time)                             SLMJ-K
                              (to 20 Nov 2023)

Territorial Disputes: periodic violent skirmishes persist among related pastoral populations along the border with the Central African Republic over water and grazing rights; The Sudan closed its border with the Central African Republic in Jan 2022 due to security concerns; Chad wants to be a helpful mediator in resolving the Darfur conflict, and in 2010 established a joint border monitoring force with Sudan, which has helped to reduce cross-border banditry and violence; however, since the Aug 2020 Juba Peace Agreement between the Sudanese Government and the Sudanese Revolutionary Front and the termination of the UN's peacekeeping mission, UNAMID, at the end of 2020, violence continues to break out over land and water access; the Halaib Triangle and Wadi Halfa Salient are controlled by Egypt, but also claimed by The Sudan. Each country claims that Bir Tawil trapezoid belongs to the other, and neither clearly controls it; Egypt no longer shows its administration of the Bir Tawil trapezoid in The Sudan on its maps; civil unrest in eastern Sudan has hampered efforts to demarcate the porous boundary with Ethiopia; clashes continue between The Sudan and Ethiopia over al-Fashaga, a fertile piece of land inhabited by Ethiopian farmers for years until the Sudanese army expelled them in Dec 2020, claiming the land belonged to The Sudan based on colonial-era maps from over 100 years ago; in Feb, 2022, the two countries were discussing resuming talks over the border conflict; Ethiopia's construction of a large dam (the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam) on the Blue Nile in northern Ethiopia since 2011 has become a focal point of relations with Egypt and The Sudan; The Sudan is concerned the dam will reduce the flow of water into the country; Ethiopia completed filling the dam in 2023; the South Sudan-Sudan boundary represents 1 Jan 1956 alignment, final alignment pending negotiations and demarcation; final sovereignty status of Abyei area pending negotiations between South Sudan and The Sudan; clashes continue in the oil-rich Abyei region; the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) has been deployed since 2011, when South Sudan became independent; the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) has condemned renewed clashes on 23 Sep 2022 between the Twik and Ngok Dinka communities taking place in Agok, 28 kilometres from Abyei town; South Sudan controls The Sudan claimed "14-mile" and Kaka areas, plus several other sites within areas claimed by both countries; in the Spring of 2023, heavy fighting broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) amid disputes over an internationally-backed plan for a transition towards civilian rule, particularly around the capital Khartoum and in some outlying areas, including the western region of Darfur, fighting continued into 2024.

Party abbreviations: DUP = al-Hizb al-Ittihadi al-Dimuqrati (Democratic Unionist Party, secularist, center-right, merger of NUP and PDP, est.Dec 1967); FFC = Forces of Freedom and Change (wide political coalition of civilian and rebel coalitions of Sudanese groups, est.1 Jan 2019); Umma = Hizb al-Umma (Community of the Believers Party, Sudanese nationalist, Islamist centrist, est.Feb 1945); HBS = Hizb al-Ba'ath al-Sudani (Sudanese Ba'ath Party, Baathist, split from Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party, est.2002); UR = Unionist Rally; Mil = Military;
- Former parties: NCP = al-Mu'tamar al-Watani (National Congress Party, authoritarian, Arab nationalist, Islamist conservative, militarist, 1998-2000 state party, 1996-28 Nov 2019, banned); NUP = National Unionist Party (social democratic, federalist, supported unity of the Nile Valley, 1952-Dec 1967, merged into DUP); PDP = People's Democratic Party (split from NUP, Jun 1956-Dec 1967, merged into DUP); SF = Southern Front (Southern Sudan regionalist, 1964-1969); SLMJ-K = Sudan Liberation Movement for Justice-Karbino (Darfur regionalist, Zaghawa ethnic, split from SLM by Ali Karbino, part of Sudan Revolutionary Front, est.2009); SLM-TC = Sudan Liberation Movement - Transitional Council (ethnic Fur, split from Sudan Liberation Army-Abdul Wahid, member of Sudan Revolutionary Front, est.2015); SPLM-N/A = Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North/Agar (SPLM-N Malik Agar personalist, Blue Nile and South Kordofan regionalist, split from SPLM-N, part of Sudan Revolutionary Front, est.2017); SSU = Al-Ittihad Al-Ishtiraki Al-Sudaniy (Sudanese Socialist Union, Arab nationalist, socialist, 1971-85 state party of Sudan, 1971-1985)

Abyei Area Administration

 4 Jan 2008                South Sudan appoints Edward Lino Wuor to administer the Abyei
                             district until the formation of the permanent administration.
31 Aug 2008                Abyei Area administration formed in disputed region between
                             Southern Sudan and government of Sudan.
 9 Jan 2011                Proposed referendum on joining South Sudan, postponed
                             indefinitely.
21 May 2011 - 27 Jun 2011  Occupied by The Sudan.
27 Jul 2011 -              United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) deployed.
27-29 Oct 2013             Unilateral referendum held by Ngok Dinka, 99% vote to
                             join South Sudan (not recognized).
Jul 2015                   Renamed Abyei Special Administrative Area.

Chief Administrators of Abyei Administrative Area
 4 Jan 2008 - 31 Aug 2008  Edward Lino Wuor (acting)          (b. 1946 - d. 2020)  SPLM
31 Aug 2008 - 30 Dec 2009  Arop Moyak Mony Toc                (b. 19.. - d. 2022)  SPLM
30 Dec 2009 - 21 May 2011  Deng Arop Kuol (1st time)                               SPLM
21 May 2011 - 27 Jun 2011  Ahmed Hussein al-Imam                                   NCP
27 Jun 2011 - 21 May 2013  Deng Arop Kuol (2nd time)                               SPLM
May 2013 – May 2015        Kuol Monyluak Dak (acting)                              SPLM
24 May 2015 -  6 Feb 2017  Chol Deng Alak (1st time)          (b. 1955)            SPLM
 6 Feb 2017 - 29 Jun 2020  Kuol Alor Jok                                           SPLM
29 Jun 2020 - 19 Jan 2023  Kuol Deim Kuol                                          SPLM
19 Jan 2023 -              Chol Deng Alak (2nd time)          (s.a.)               SPLM

Heads of Mission of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA)
27 Jul 2011 - 12 Mar 2013  Tadesse Werede Tesfay (Ethiopia)   (b. 1958)
12 Mar 2013 - 19 Jun 2014  Yohannes Gebremeskel Tesfamariam   (b. 1960)
                             (Ethiopia)
19 Jun 2014 - 28 Jan 2015  Halefom Ejigu Moges (Ethiopia)
                             (acting)
28 Jan 2015 - 12 Aug 2016  Haile Tilahun Gebremariam          (b. 1954 - d. 2016)
                             (Ethiopia)
12 Aug 2016 - 21 Mar 2017  Zewdu Kiros Gebrekidan (f)(acting)
                             (officer-in-charge Head of Mission)
                             (Ethiopia)
21 Mar 2017 - 23 Apr 2018  Tesfay Gidey Hailemichael          (b. 1965)
                             (Ethiopia)(acting)
15 May 2018 - 23 Apr 2019  Gebre Adhana Woldezgu (Ethiopia)   (b. 1963)
                             (acting)
23 Apr 2019 -  7 Jul 2020  Mehari Zewde Gebremariam (Ethiopia)(b. 1965)
                             (acting)
 7 Jul 2020 - 15 Mar 2022  Kefyalew Amde Tessema (Ethiopia)   (b. 1969)
                             (acting)
15 Mar 2022 - 31 May 2024  Benjamin Olufemi Sawyerr (Nigeria)
                             (acting)
31 May 2024 -              Ameer Muhammad Umrani (Pakistan)
                             (acting)

Commanders, United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA)
27 Jul 2011 - 12 Mar 2013  Tadesse Werede Tesfay (Ethiopia)   (s.a.)
12 Mar 2013 - 19 Jun 2014  Yohannes Gebremeskel Tesfamariam   (s.a.)
                             (Ethiopia)
19 Jun 2014 - 21 Nov 2014  Halefom Ejigu Moges (Ethiopia)
                             (acting)
21 Nov 2014 - 20 Jan 2016  Birhanu Jula Gelalcha (Ethiopia)   (b. 1965)
20 Jan 2016 - 11 Feb 2017  Hassen Ebrahim Mussa (Ethiopia)    (b. 1966)
17 Feb 2017 - 21 Mar 2017  Zewdu Kiros Gebrekidan (f)(acting)
                             (Ethiopia)
21 Mar 2017 - 23 Apr 2018  Tesfay Gidey Hailemichael          (s.a.)
                             (Ethiopia)
15 May 2018 - 23 Apr 2019  Gebre Adhana Woldezgu (Ethiopia)   (s.a.)
23 Apr 2019 -  7 Jul 2020  Mehari Zewde Gebremariam (Ethiopia)(s.a.)
 7 Jul 2020 - 15 Mar 2022  Kefyalew Amde Tessema (Ethiopia)   (s.a.)
                             (interim)
15 Mar 2022 - 31 May 2024  Benjamin Olufemi Sawyerr (Nigeria)
31 May 2024 -              Ameer Muhammad Umrani (Pakistan)
                             (acting)

Party abbreviations: SPLM = Sudan People's Liberation Movement (pro-southern autonomy, political arm of Sudan Peoples' Liberation Army, est.1983);
- Former parties: NCP = al-Mu'tamar al-Watani (National Congress Party, authoritarian, Arab nationalist, Islamist conservative, militarist, 1998-2000 state party, 1996-28 Nov 2019, banned)