Al-Mahdi’s family said he passed away on Thursday in hospital in the United Arab Emirates. Sudanese media reports said his health deteriorated after suffering severe pneumonia complications brought on by the virus.
Sudan's transitional military-civilian government declared three days of national mourning, while political figures and diplomats around the world posted messages of condolence on Twitter.
The U.S. Embassy offers its deepest condolences to the people of Sudan and to the family and friends of former Prime Minister and Chairman of Sudanese Umma Party, Sadiq al-Mahdi. pic.twitter.com/fiBRDXcLsV
— US Embassy Khartoum (@USEmbassyKRT) November 26, 2020
The country’s last democratically elected prime minister, al-Mahdi was ousted in the 1989 coup that brought former long-time president Omar al-Bashir to power.
He was an outspoken opponent of Sudan's recent warming of ties with Israel, arguing the move would lead to war.
Al-Mahdi's National Umma Party said in its statement that he would be buried on Friday in the Sudanese city of Omdurman, in Khartoum state.
