Farewell to “Abu Hashim”: Special Aircraft to Transport Al-Mirghani’s Body as International Tributes Highlight His Legacy
Cairo, Sudanese Echoes – A profound sense of grief has swept across political, religious and social circles in Sudan and abroad following the official announcement of the death of Mohamed Othman Al-Mirghani, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (Origin) and spiritual leader of the Khatmiyya Sufi Order. Al-Mirghani passed away in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, on Friday, after a distinguished journey spanning decades of national and spiritual service.
Al-Mirghani’s death marked a significant moment that prompted widespread reactions. Tributes were not limited to Sudan’s highest levels of authority and political forces but also extended to notable regional and international diplomatic circles. They broadly agreed that Sudan had lost one of its most prominent historical pillars and a symbol of moderation and tolerance at a critical juncture in the country’s history.
Special Aircraft
At the official level in Sudan, the country’s top leadership moved swiftly to offer condolences and express sympathy. President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council (TSC) and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, General Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan, made a telephone call to the bereaved family and the late leader’s sons.
During the call, Al-Burhan extended his sincere condolences to the family and all followers and admirers of the late leader. He directed that a special aircraft be allocated to transport the deceased’s body from Cairo to Sudan and that all necessary official arrangements be completed for the funeral and burial ceremonies. The move was in recognition of Al-Mirghani’s prominent religious and political standing and his longstanding contributions to public life in Sudan.
Values of Tolerance
For his part, Prime Minister Professor Kamil Idris issued a moving statement of condolence, describing the deceased as “a great national and religious figure and symbol” who had passed away, leaving behind a distinguished record of dedication and service to the nation.
The Prime Minister affirmed that Al-Mirghani had devoted his life to consolidating the values of freedom, peace and tolerance, spreading love and virtue, and defending Sudan’s unity and stability. He extended his sincere condolences to the entire Sudanese people, the bereaved family, followers of the Khatmiyya Sufi Order and members of the Democratic Unionist Party (Origin).
A Pillar of Wisdom
In the same context, the General Intelligence Service (GIS), represented by its Director-General, General Ahmed Ibrahim Mufaddal, his deputies, assistants and all its personnel, mourned the deceased in a statement that opened with the Quranic verse:
“Give glad tidings to those who patiently endure, who, when disaster strikes them, say: Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed, to Him we shall return.”
The GIS stated that Sudan had lost, with Al-Mirghani’s passing, “a pillar of wisdom and a man of exceptional character who combined patriotism, the tolerance of Sufism and sound judgment.”
The statement noted that throughout his life, the late leader had been a symbol of integrity and dignity, a refuge for mending divisions and reconciling differences, and a spiritual father and sincere guide whose steadfastness remained unchanged despite the passage of time and the hardships he faced. He had dedicated his spiritual and national standing to preserving the fabric of Sudanese society.
European Condolences
Beyond Sudan’s borders, Al-Mirghani’s passing attracted diplomatic attention that reflected his stature and regional and international relations. Wolfram Vetter, Head of the European Union Delegation to Sudan, sent a message of condolence on behalf of the European Union to the bereaved family, the Democratic Unionist Party’s supporters, the Khatmiyya Sufi Order and the Sudanese people.
Vetter affirmed that Al-Mirghani’s death represented the loss of a prominent national, political and religious leader who had devoted his life to promoting the values of moderation, national unity, dialogue and consensus.
The European official linked the late leader’s legacy to the current challenges facing Sudan, noting that his passing served as a reminder of the importance of leaders who transcend divisions and place national interests above all else.
He stressed that, at its current stage, Sudan is in greater need than ever of leaders committed to uniting ranks and working for peace, stability and reconciliation, so that Al-Mirghani’s wisdom and dedication may remain an example for future generations.
Arab and Egyptian Condolences
At the regional level, the League of Arab States, through its Secretary-General, mourned Mohamed Othman Al-Mirghani, leader of the Khatmiyya Sufi Order and head of the Democratic Unionist Party (Origin), praising his national, political and religious standing and his contributions to public life in Sudan.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdel-Aatty also mourned the late leader with profound sorrow, extending his sincere condolences to the Sudanese people and the bereaved family.
Abdel-Aatty praised Al-Mirghani’s political and national positions, which were consistently characterised by wisdom and the prioritisation of Sudan’s interests. He also highlighted the late leader’s significant contributions throughout his career to strengthening the bonds of brotherhood and the historic rapprochement between the peoples of the Nile Valley.
The National Movement
At the level of political forces and armed movements, statements of condolence continued to pour in, highlighting the late leader’s historical significance.
Minister of Finance and head of the Sudanese Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), Gebreil Ibrahim, mourned Al-Mirghani in a post on his official page, affirming that Sudan had lost, with his passing, one of its prominent figures in religious, national and political affairs. He noted that Al-Mirghani was among those whose names were closely associated with the history of the national movement and who had contributed over several decades to shaping the country’s political, religious and social landscape, leaving a lasting imprint on the hearts and minds of generations of Sudanese.
For its part, the National Congress Party issued a statement of condolence bearing the name of its acting chairman, Engineer Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid. The statement recalled Al-Mirghani’s long career in religious and political work, describing him as one of Sudan’s prominent figures who devoted their lives to serving the country and adopted “wisdom and moderation” as a steadfast approach to political and national engagement.
Meanwhile, the Sudanese-Sudanese Dialogue Preparatory Committee issued a statement mourning the country’s loss, noting that Al-Mirghani’s name had remained present at pivotal moments in Sudan’s history, owing to his well-known concern for national issues and his persistent calls for consensus and overcoming differences to preserve the country’s unity.
The committee stressed that his passing at this critical time would leave a profound impact on those yearning for peace. It affirmed that true loyalty to the nation’s prominent figures lies not merely in recalling their biographies, but also in drawing inspiration from the values they advocated, foremost among them dialogue, tolerance and placing the supreme national interest above all else.