List of Presidents of Sudan: Past and Present

Last updated November 2026

This page lists the presidents and heads of state of Sudan from 1958 to the present, with the years each leader was in office and a short summary of their time in power. Use it to find the current president of Sudan, former presidents, and key dates in the country's political history.

Current president of Sudan: Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (in office since 2019).

Presidents of Sudan in order, with years in office

Ibrahim Abboud

Served: 1958–1964

Army general who led the military government from November 1958 and resigned in 1964.

Ismail al-Azhari

Served: 1965–1969

First prime minister of independent Sudan; later head of state in a largely honorary role until the 1969 coup.

Gaafar Nimeiry

Served: 1969–1985

Took power in a 1969 coup, made Sudan a one-party state and granted the south autonomy; imposed Sharia law in 1983.

Abdel Rahman Swar al-Dahab

Served: 1985–1986

Led the Transitional Military Council that handed power to an elected government in 1986.

Ahmed al-Mirghani

Served: 1986–1989

Head of state under the elected government until the 1989 coup.

Omar al-Bashir

Served: 1989–2019

Took power in the June 1989 coup and ruled for almost 30 years until he was removed in April 2019.

Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf

Served: 2019

Took control for one day in April 2019 before resigning in favour of Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.

Abdel Fattah al-Burhan

Served: 2019–present

Head of the transitional military and sovereignty authorities since April 2019; seized power again in the October 2021 coup.

Frequently asked questions about the presidents of Sudan

Who is the current president of Sudan?

The current head of state of Sudan is Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, in office since 2019.

Who were the previous presidents of Sudan?

The presidents and heads of state of Sudan listed on this page, in order, are: Ibrahim Abboud, Ismail al-Azhari, Gaafar Nimeiry, Abdel Rahman Swar al-Dahab, Ahmed al-Mirghani, Omar al-Bashir, Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.

Sources: Wikipedia, List of heads of state of Sudan; WorldAtlas, Presidents of Sudan; Reuters on the October 2021 events (checked Nov 2026). Collective sovereignty councils (1956–1958, 1964) and a short acting spell in 1964 are not listed.. Last reviewed November 2026.

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