Osman Kebir
Osman Mohamed Yousif Kibir | |
|---|---|
| Second Vice President of Sudan | |
| In office 10 September 2018 – 11 April 2019 | |
| President | Omar al-Bashir |
| Preceded by | Hassabu Mohamed Abdalrahman |
| Governor of North Darfur | |
| In office May 2003 – June 2015 | |
| Succeeded by | Abdel-Wahid Youssef |
| Personal details | |
| Party | National Congress Party (Sudan) |
Osman Kebir, also known as Osman Mohamed Yousif Kibir is a Sudanese politician. He served as the governor of the state of North Darfur in Sudan between May 2003 and June 2015. In September 2018, Kebir was appointed as the Second Vice President of Sudan.
Governor of North Darfur
In May 2003 Kebir was appointed governor of North Darfur. He is member of the National Congress Party.[1] He has publicly denied that the Janjaweed had any link to the government. In October 2004, he accused numerous international organizations and observers of the Darfur conflict of bias against the Sudanese government.[2] Kofi Annan met him in provincial capital El Fasher in 2004, to call on protection of Darfur villagers.
During at least part the Darfur genocide (2003–2005) Kebir was governor of North Darfur and lifted some restrictions on aid organisations in October 2004.[3] In October 2005 the head of the Islamic Bank of Faisal in El Fasher was shot and killed, Kebir blamed the Justice and Equality Movement and Sudan Liberation Army.[4] In October 2008, while still in this position, he met Alain Le Roy, the United Nations undersecretary for peacekeeping.[5]
In April 2010 Kebir expelled several National Congress Party members of the North Darfur state legislature after they had sided with the independent candidate for the position of North Darfur, Ibrahim Mohamed Suleiman.[6] During the May 2010 El Fasher protests, Kebir at first promised the affected individuals compensation, but later backtracked on his decision. There were subsequently protests at his governor's house and police fired on the crowd, killing several individuals.[7]
At the beginning of December 2010, Kebir began an offensive against the towns in which the SLA-MM had a presence. The initial goal of crushing the rebels became an excuse to brutalize the Zaghawa population. Kebir armed and encouraged non-Zaghawa populations to fight and expel Zaghawas. Between March–June 2011, a large number of Zaghawas were displaced as a result of their indiscriminate aerial bombardments on Jabal Marra. During these events, tribal militiamen, mainly Tunjur and some Birgid, organized a massacre against the Zaghawas in Abu Zerega with the approval of the authorities.[8]
In 2012 Kebir denied having a private militia, while a milita called Kebir's Militia consisting mainly of Berti people emerged, which Kebir also is.[9][10]
On 15 March 2014, while in his position as governor, Kebir survived an assassination attempt near Kuma. His driver and a police officer were killed.[11] In August of the same year Kebir reshuffled his government.[12]
In June 2015 Kebir was succeeded as governor by Abdel-Wahid Youssef.[13]
Vice President
On 10 September 2018 Kebir was named vice president of Sudan, succeeding Hassabu Mohamed Abdalrahman.[14] While in this position, in December 2018, he ordered the governors of the states of Darfur to return land to people who had been displaced, if necessary by force.[15] In the wake of the Sudanese revolution in 2019 Kebir lost his position and was imprisoned.[16]
References
- ^ "Sudan Tribune: Plural news and views on Sudan". www.sudantribune.com. Archived from the original on 7 December 2018. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
- ^ [1]
- ^ "North Darfur Governor calls for return of aid groups, reaches out to rebels". Sudan Tribune. 28 November 2004.
- ^ "Darfur refugees release last Sudanese hostages – UN". Sudan Tribune. 27 October 2005. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
- ^ "UN peacekeeping chief meets with Governor of North Darfur State". UNAMID. 1 December 2008. Archived from the original on 25 January 2026.
- ^ "North Darfur Governor expels members of state legislature". Dabanga Sudan. 1 April 2010. Archived from the original on 9 November 2025.
- ^ "Bloody day in Darfur's El-Fasher after demonstrators march to governor residence". Sudan Tribune. 3 May 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
- ^ "Darfur Armed Opposition Groups and Coalitions". reliefweb. 30 November 2011. Archived from the original on 18 January 2026.
- ^ "North Darfur governor denies having private militia". Sudan Tribune. 15 November 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
- ^ Stephen Graham (5 June 2015). "Sudan briefing: Darfur's deep descent into chaos". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2 June 2025.
- ^ "North Darfur governor survives assassination attempt". Radio Tamazuj. 16 March 2014. Archived from the original on 5 December 2025.
- ^ "New North Darfur government announced". Radio Dabanga. 6 August 2014. Archived from the original on 21 February 2026.
- ^ "Demands for more protection to North Darfur's new governor". Dabanga Sudan. 15 June 2015. Archived from the original on 17 September 2025.
- ^ "Sudan's new cabinet to be announced within 48 hours: al-Bashir". Sudan Tribune. 11 September 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
- ^ "Darfur governors promise resettlement for displaced at States Conference". reliefweb.int. 19 December 2018. Archived from the original on 14 January 2026.
- ^ "Sudan's military body denies release of former regime figures". Sudan Tribune. 27 April 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2026.