Khaberni - Mohamed Tahir Ayala (74 years old), the last Prime Minister in the government of former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, passed away on Monday in the Egyptian capital Cairo after a long struggle with illness.
The head of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, ordered a private plane to transport Ayala's body back to Sudan to be buried in the city of Port Sudan, which witnessed a developmental renaissance during his tenure.
Ayala's death marks the end of a career that spanned decades in public service, characterized by a variety of roles and multiple positions he held within state institutions.
Ayala played a significant role in the Sudanese political scene for decades, known for his decisive administrative style and his ability to implement tangible development projects, and enjoyed wide acceptance in administrative circles, especially in files related to regional development.
Ayala was one of the closest to deposed President Omar al-Bashir, to the extent of his appointment as Prime Minister in his last government (February/March to April/April 2019) at the height of the protest movement calling for the departure of the then ruling authorities (December/December 2018 to April/April 2019).
The City Maker
Ayala, who served as Prime Minister from February/March to April/April 2019, had previously managed the Sea Ports Authority and the Ministries of Foreign Trade, Transport, and Communications, besides serving as Governor of the Red Sea for 10 years before moving to the governor of Al Jazirah.
Known as the "City Maker", he made a clear mark in developing the city of Port Sudan, which during his tenure transformed into a clean and attractive tourist destination, then transferred his experience to the city of Wad Medani, the capital of Al Jazirah state in the center of the country, working on improving its infrastructure and beautifying its streets.
Mohamed Tahir Ayala was born in the city of "Gebit" located in the Red Sea State in eastern Sudan in 1951, and belongs to the Hadendawa tribe, one of the prominent tribal components in the region.
He received his university education at the University of Khartoum, where he obtained a bachelor's degree in economics, before moving to the United Kingdom to continue his postgraduate studies, where he earned a master's degree from Cardiff University. This academic background provided him with analytical and administrative tools that helped him manage the economic and development files he later held in various government positions.
