SOME ASPECTS OF THE ANGLO-EGYPTIAN CONDOMINIUM RULE IN SUDAN (1899-1914)

Authors : İsmail Hakkı GÖKSOY

Pages : 76-90

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Publication Date : 2019-01-16

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Although Sudan together with Egypt had been officially a part of Ottoman Empire, the country came under the joint administration of Anglo-Egyptian condominium rule in 1899. Afterwards, the British authorities tried to separate Sudan from Egypt in terms of its political and administrative systems. They administered the country as a separate and autonomous region with the “condominium agreement” of 1899. Initially there was a British governor-general who came originly from military personnel. He was responsible for the administration of the country at the top level. Later on a civillian British governor-general was appointed to that post. Various administrative departments connected to the office of governor-general were created gradually, which had responsibility in the administration of the country. An advisory council attached to the governor-general’s office was formed from senior officials to help him in administrative affairs. In addition, the British established the civil, financial and legal departments as well as the political and intelligence unit called as “Sudan agent”. All the departments were headed by the British officials at the top levels, while the Eyptian officials were working at the lower levels of the administration and their numbers were kept in a limited one. The proportion of local Sudanese elements in the administration has been tried to gradually increase. The British followed a careful and balanced policy towards the local tribes and developed various ties with them. The native people so became more adoptable to accept the current system of administration, and they were encouraged to take over the posts at the lower levels. Although Sudan was depended initially on the Eyptian budget in terms of financial matters, it reached gradually to a sufficient level to form its own budget. The Anglo-Eyptian condominium rule applied in the country before the First World War constituted a basis for Sudan's emergence as an independent state in the future.
Keywords : Sudan, Anglo Eyptian Sudan, British Rule in Sudan