Thousands attend funeral of Sudan's former premier Sadiq al-Mahdi

Thousands of Sudanese mourners have converged in the city of Omdurman to participate in the funeral of Sudan’s last democratically-elected prime minister Sadiq al-Mahdi, who passed away from the coronavirus.

The mourning event on Friday came after Mahdi's body arrived at Khartoum airport earlier in the day, where the head of Sudan’s ruling sovereign council, the prime minister and other top officials attended an official reception.

The coffin of Mahdi, who was 84 years old, was then transferred to Omdurman, the capital's twin city across the river Nile, for the funeral, according to local media reports.

Sudan's former PM Sadiq al-Mahdi dies from coronavirus in UAE

Leading Sudanese politician and former prime minister Sadiq al-Mahdi dies of a coronavirus infection in the United Arab Emirates.

His body was laid to rest alongside his great-grandfather, the Mahdi (messiah) who had led a popular uprising against British colonial rule in the late 1800s. He contracted COVID-19 last month and was being treated in the United Arab Emirates.

Mourners in traditional white garments, mostly wearing masks, wept and waved national flags ahead of prayers for the two-time prime minister, who was a central figure in Sudan's political and spiritual life for over 50 years.

Stewards moved through the crowds of mourners, who gathered around the domed shrine where he was to be buried, offering hand sanitizer as a precaution against COVID-19 after Mahdi's Umma Party had called on mourners Thursday to follow all health procedures.

His passing came shortly after Khartoum entered a normalization deal with the Israeli regime under intense pressure from the outgoing administration of hawkish US President Donald Trump.

Lebanon’s Hezbollah resistance movement issued a message of condolence marking al-Mahdi’s passing, saying he was a staunch supporter of Palestine who opposed any form of normalization with the Tel Aviv regime. 

Hezbollah: Al-Mahdi strongly opposed normalization with Israel

Lebanon’s Hezbollah releases a condolence message over the passing of former Sudanese prime minister, Sadiq al-Mahdi.

The Palestinian resistance movement of Hamas also released a condolence message, expressing gratitude towards the late Sudanese official for his support for Palestine and the rights of his own country’s people.

"The scenes broadcast on television of the funeral despite the health conditions... indicate the extent of the popularity and political weight that the late Imam enjoyed," said the editor of the Khartoum-based Al Taghyeer online newspaper, Rasha Awad.

"Mahdi was known for his moderation and realistic reading of the Sudanese political arena... His absence will inevitably weaken the democratic transition process," she further observed.

Al-Mahdi was last voted into office in 1986, and was then overthrown three years later in a military coup led by Omar al-Bashir, then an obscure army brigadier who later ruled the country as president before being ousted following nationwide protests in April 2019.

The late Sudanese leader was imprisoned and forced into exile often during his long career but staged come-back efforts and remained influential. His Umma Party was one of the largest opposition groups during Bashir's 30-year rule.

He returned from exile a final time amid growing protest rallies across the country over deteriorating economic conditions in December 2018 that culminated in Bashir’s overthrow from power.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk