Passion or Profession: Prime Minister, Independence Leader

Period: 1900–1969

Al-Azhari became involved in politics because of his opposition to the colonial powers that the British and Egyptians held over Sudan. Al-Azhari proposed joining with Egypt to free Sudan from British control. However, when al-Azhari became prime minister, he simply declared independence. He faced many challenges because of the country’s divisions between Muslim Arabs in the north and non-Arabic blacks in the south. He was eventually forced out of office. But he is still remembered as a leader of Sudan’s indpendence.