Gibril Ibrahim Mohammed (Arabic: جبريل إبراهيم محمد, born 1 January 1955), often spelled Jibril, is a Sudanese politician. He is the leader of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) since 2012, after the death of his brother, Khalil. In October 2020 he signed the Juba Peace Agreement. As a result, Ibrahim has served as Minister of Finance of Sudan since February 2021. As leader of the JEM he was neutral in the 2023 War in Sudan from April until November, when he allied with the Sudanese Armed Forces.
Gibril Ibrahim | |
|---|---|
| جبريل إبراهيم | |
 Ibrahim in 2023 | |
| Chairman of the Justice and Equality Movement | |
| Assumed office 26 January 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Khalil Ibrahim |
| Minister of Finance | |
| Assumed office 10 February 2021 | |
| Prime Minister | Abdalla Hamdok (until 2022), Osman Hussein (since 2022) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 January 1955 Altina, Darfur, Anglo-Egyptian Sudan |
| Nationality | Sudanese |
| Political party | Justice and Equality Movement |
| Relatives | Khalil (brother) |
| Alma mater | University of Khartoum, Meiji University |
Biography
editIbrahim was born on 1 January 1955 in al-Tina, North Darfur, in what was then the Anglo-Egyptian colony of Sudan. His father died when he was 4. Ibrahim studied for an undergraduate degree at the University of Khartoum, before leaving Sudan at the age of 25.[1]
Ibrahim was offered a scholarship in Japan, where he spent 7 years, completing his master's degree and doctorate in economics at Meiji University.[2][3] He became a fluent Japanese speaker. Ibrahim later returned to Sudan, before leaving again for Dubai in 2000 due to his opposition to the government. In Dubai he served as the Economic Advisor for JEM for 6 years, before travelling to the United Kingdom in 2006 to serve as JEM's Secretary of Foreign Affairs.[1] Ibrahim formerly taught as associate professor of economics at King Saud University in Saudi Arabia.[3] He was part of JEM's negotiating team at the failed peace talks in Abuja and Doha.[2]
On 26 January 2012 he was elected chairman of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), after his brother, Khalil, had been killed in a Sudanese Air Force airstrike in Northern Kordofan in December 2011.[4]
In October 2020, Ibrahim, as leader of the JEM and one of the leaders of the Sudan Revolutionary Front, he signed the Juba Peace Agreement. This resulted in his naming as Minister of Finance in the cabinet of Abdalla Hamdok on 10 February 2021.[3][5] He continued to hold the position after the events of the 2021 Sudanese coup d'état on 25 October.[6][7]
In March 2023 he argued for an inclusive government and ultimately the integration of all armed forces to the Sudanese Armed Forces.[8]
At the start of hostilities in the 2023 War in Sudan Ibrahim and his JEM pledged neutrality. He also called for a halt of the fighting.[9] In September 2023, Ibrahim's home in Al-Manshiyya, Khartoum was raided and the leader of his guard team and two others were detained by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).[9] In November 2023 he announced that the JEM would participate in the 2023 Sudan war on the side of the SAF.[10] As finance minister he saw the Sudanese pound lose 100% of its value compared to the situation before the war, which was caused by a high demand for foreign currency. The economy declined by 40% in 2023 and had a projected decrease of a further 28% in 2024.[11]
References
edit- ^ a b "Meet the leadership: JEM Chairman, Dr. Gibril Ibrahim". JEM. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
- ^ a b "BBC News - Sudan: Brother of Darfur rebels' late leader takes over". BBC News. 26 January 2012. Archived from the original on 21 October 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
- ^ a b c "Governor Talk - Sudan: Sudan's Policy Efforts to Reach the Decision Point and Reform Program Ahead". imfconnect.org. 11 October 2021. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023.
- ^ "Gibril Ibrahim Mohamed Jibreel Ibrahim Mohamed". Sudan Tribune. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015.
- ^ Magdy, Samy (10 February 2021). "Sudan's new Cabinet sworn in amid protests over dire economy". AP NEWS. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021.
- ^ "Sudan: Finance minister calls for international aid". africanews.com. 17 November 2011. Archived from the original on 1 October 2023.
- ^ "Compromised Hamdok battles to save Sudan's political transition". Al Arabiya. 9 December 2021. Archived from the original on 26 November 2022.
- ^ "Sudan FM Jibril Ibrahim disavows return to 'narrow government'". Dabanga Sudan. 30 March 2023. Archived from the original on 1 June 2023.
- ^ a b "RSF assault JEM's leader home in Khartoum, arrest guards". Sudan Tribune. 10 September 2023. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
- ^ Copnall, James; Nesta Kupemba, Danai (17 November 2023). "Sudan civil war: Darfur's Jem rebels join army fight against RSF". BBC News. Archived from the original on 18 November 2023.
- ^ "Finance minister links falling Sudanese pound to military spending, war". Sudan Tribune. 26 February 2024. Retrieved 9 March 2024.