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Lieutenant General Shams al-Din Kabbashi (Arabic: شمس الدين كباشي, Shams al-Dīn Kabāshī; born 1 January 1961), is a Sudanese military figure and academic. He holds the distinction of being the fifth military member of the Sudanese Sovereign Council, a significant political body formed following the ousting of President Omar al-Bashir in 2019. He is Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces.
Early life and education
Shams al-Din Kabbashi Ibrahim Shinto was raised in the village of Anqarko, located south of Dalang, in South Kordofan. His father, Kabashi Ibrahim Shinto, served as a soldier in the Sudan Defence Force with the Haggana Brigade, from 1955 to 1973.
Kabbashi education journey took him through various schools due to his father's military postings, including primary schools in Dalang, Babanusa, al-Mandal, al-Hammadi, Talodi, and middle school at Habila and Heiban schools in South Kordofan. He completed his high school education at Talwi Secondary School in Kadugli.
Career
Military career
Shams al-Din Kabbashi's military career began when he joined the Sudanese Military College in February 1981, eventually graduating in February 1983 with the rank of lieutenant. Over the years, he climbed the ranks, achieving the position of first lieutenant general in February 2020. Throughout his military career, he held various academic and leadership roles within the military, including teaching at the 5th Infantry Division, serving as an instructor at the Command and Staff College, and commanding divisions and departments.
Political involvement
Kabbashi became politically involved after the resignation of Ahmed Awad bin Auf from the presidency of the Military Council following the revolution that ousted President Omar al-Bashir. He was appointed as the spokesman for the Transitional Military Council and later became a member of the Sudanese Sovereign Council on 20 August 2019. He also participated in government negotiations during peace talks between the Sudanese government and armed movements in Juba, South Sudan, in 2020.
In November 2021, a new transitional sovereignty council was formed, with Shams al-Din Kabbashi continuing to serve as a member.