Khalid Hassan Abbas

Khalid Hassan Abbas (March 17, 1936 – August 20, 2015) (Arabic: خالد حسن عباس‎‎) was a Sudanese General and politician. Abbas served as minister of health, minister of communications and transport and commander in chief of the armed forces of Sudan. He is recognised for his intelligence although he remained silent and peaceful all his life. Abbas rose to prominence as a result of his involvement in the 1969 Sudanese coup d'état, following which he became the Deputy Chairman of the ruling National Revolutionary Command Council. Abbas was appointed as Minister of Defense on 29 October 1969 following a cabinet reshuffle implemented to strengthen the army's control over the Sudanese government. Abbas, an anti-Mahdist and non-communist, was given the role. As Defense Minister he, alongside Babiker, would push Nimeiry to adopt a more aggressive response to the rising threat to the government posed by the Ansar movement, resulting in the brutal crackdown seen on Aba Island in 1970. Abbas's tenure also saw the attempted 1971 Sudanese coup d'état, during which his younger brother was killed. The RCC was disbanded following the 1971 coup attempt at Abbas's insistence, and Nimeiry instead assumed the title of President in September 1971. Abbas served as Defense Minister until 16 April 1972, at which point Nimeiry took over the role. Abbas died on 20 August 2015, and was buried on Riyadh Arboretum Street in Khartoum.