Historical overview:
introduction:
Since Muhammad Ali Pasha took over Sudan in 1821 AD, Sudan became subject to Ottoman rule (1821 – 1885 AD). During this period, Sudan was ruled by a governor called the Governor-General of Sudan. The capital was moved from Sennar to Wad Madani. Since 1825 AD, the gradual transition to transfer the capital to Khartoum and the government offices to it began. During the reign of Governor Ali Khurshid Pasha, the final transition was decided and Khartoum was made the capital of the administration of the rule of Sudan throughout the period of Ottoman rule in 1832 AD.
The Palace of the Governorship (the Saray):
In 1925 AD, Governor Maho Bey Orfali (1825-1826 AD) built the first palace out of mud (adobe) in a rectangular shape, which he designated as the headquarters for the administration of the Sudanese government and his residence. It was known as (the Governor’s Palace). Its location is on the southern bank of the Blue Nile, less than a kilometer from the confluence of the White and Blue Niles.
During the reign of Governor Ali Khurshid Pasha (1826-1838 AD), some additions and improvements were made to the building of the Governorship Palace, and it was completed in 1834 AD. Governor Khurshid Pasha also built the Directorate building and transferred the state administration offices and interests to it.
During the reign of Governor Abdul Latif Pasha Abdullah (1849-1851 AD), he demolished the building of the Governorship Palace, which was built of mud (adobe), and rebuilt it in 1851 AD, using bricks transported from the remains of the ruins of the ancient city of Soba and some old buildings in Abu Haraz, located on the eastern bank of the Blue Nile. The new (Saray) consists of two floors and is lined with sandstone from the outside. It has a wing for visitors and a wing for the harem, and is surrounded by gardens with different types of trees such as palm trees and grapes.
The palace remained the seat of the Governor-General of Sudan until the Mahdist Revolution took over power. At the beginning of the Mahdist rule (1885-1898 AD), the capital was moved to the city of Omdurman on the western bank of the Nile, and the second ruler of the Mahdist state, Khalifa Abdullah al-Ta’aishi, built a palace for government known as the Khalifa’s House, which remained the seat of government until the establishment of the dual colonialism (Anglo-Egyptian).
Governor General’s Palace:
Sudan was subjected to the Anglo-Egyptian dual colonial rule (1898 – December 31, 1955). The English governor, Herbert Kitchener Pasha, the first governor-general of Sudan, returned the capital to Khartoum and rebuilt the palace in 1899. He built it on the stone foundations of the demolished governorship palace. A large part of the palace building was completed in 1900. The second governor, Sir Reginald Wingate, resided in it and completed the rest of the general plan for the palace facilities and its annexes by 1906. The palace was built of red brick, but its corners were built of sandstone. The palace consists of a ground floor and two upper floors and has three wings: a main wing facing the Blue Nile and extending east and west, a wing on the right and a wing on the left extending from the main wing to the south. The entire building represents half a square. After the construction of the directorate building to the west of the governor-general’s palace (currently the Ministry of Finance), the offices of the administrative and financial secretary were moved to it. The governor-general’s palace remained the headquarters and residence of the governor-general of Sudan throughout the period of the Anglo-Egyptian dual colonial rule. The total area of the palace during this period was (74,000) square meters.
Presidential Palace Complex:
the site:
The Republican Palace complex is located on the southern bank of the Blue Nile, bordered to the north by Nile Street, to the south by University Street, to the east by Abu Sin Street, and to the west by Mahira Street. Since the planning of the city of Khartoum, the Republican Palace was established to be the point of dividing the city of Khartoum into two parts. Ministries, interests, and government offices were built around it to the east and west, and commercial institutions to the south.
Area:
The total area of the Republican Palace complex is (150) thousand square meters.
Republican Palace Building:
Sudan gained its independence from Britain and Egypt on January 1, 1956. The British flag was lowered and the Sudanese flag was raised over the mast of the palace building. The palace remained the official headquarters of the presidency of the Republic of Sudan and a symbol of national sovereignty. It became known as the Republican Palace. It contains the offices of the members of the Sovereignty Council and the administrations of the presidency. During the period of subsequent national governments, a headquarters was allocated to His Excellency the President of the Republic, his deputies, assistants and advisors after the abolition of the five-member Presidential Council (Sovereignty Council). The second floor was also allocated as an official guest house for the country’s guests of kings and presidents when they visited Sudan until 1974, in addition to other locations outside the palace that were also used as guest houses. Former President Lieutenant General Ibrahim Abboud is considered the only Sudanese president in the national era who lived inside the Republican Palace, as he built a residence in the southwestern part of the Republican Palace in 1960.
Presidential Palace Building:
The need arose to establish a building for the presidential palace that meets the needs of the presidency, its tasks and functions, and keeps pace with the times in light of technical development. Previous national governments tried to establish a presidential palace, but this did not happen until an agreement was concluded to establish it during the visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao to Sudan in 2007. The contract was signed and its design was approved after completing all technical studies on the project in 2009. The implementation contract was signed on November 25, 2010. Work began in March 2011. It was officially opened on the night of January 26, 2015 by His Excellency President Field Marshal Omar Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir, and the flag was raised over the presidential palace mast, marking the transfer of the leadership of the presidency to the presidential palace.
Components of the Presidency Complex:
1/ The Presidential Palace building is located in an area of (5300) square meters.
2/ The Republican Palace building is located in an area of (1926) square meters.
3/ Buildings of the Ministry of Presidential Affairs – General Secretariat. Located in the eastern part of the Republican Palace complex.
4/ Command of the Republican Guard Brigade.
5/ Museum and Library.
7/ Green spaces and gardens.
8/ The mosque.