Gaafar Nimeiry

Gaafar Muhammad an-Nimeiry (otherwise known as Jaafar Nimeiry, Gaafar Nimeiry or Ga'far Muhammad an-Numayri; born January 1, 1930) of the Danagla tribe was a Sudanese military leader and political figure. He served as the President of Sudan from 25 May 1969 until he was overthrown by his defence minister on 6 April1985. During his reign in 1972, the Addis Ababa Agreement was signed with southern rebels leading to a cessation of the north-south civil war that had raged since 1955. A degree of self-rule was given to the south and this led to ten years hiatus in the civil war which reignited in 1983.

After spending several years in exile in Egypt, Nimeiri returned to Sudan in 1999.

His party The Alliance of the Peoples' Working Forces recently merged with the ruling National Congress Party in Sudan.

Nimeiry was born in Wad Nubawi, in the city of Omdurman.