Background
Sirr Al-Khatim was born on 1 January, 1919, at Dueim, 120 miles south of Khartoum.
Sirr Al-Khatim was born on 1 January, 1919, at Dueim, 120 miles south of Khartoum.
Educated at Gordon Memorial College, Khartoum. Started teaching in January 1938 at Bakht er Ruda Institute. In 1944 he went to England for a two-year education course at Exeter College, Oxford University.
In 1950 he was appointed province education officer at Juba and became assistant director of education for the Southern Provinces in 1957. He returned to Khartoum in 1960 as principal of the Technical Institute. In March 1964 he was appointed deputy under-secretary at the Ministry of Education.
His reputation for integrity made him the choice of all parties as Prime Minister of the caretaker government to restore democracy and pave the way for elections after the overthrow of the military junta in the October 30 revolution in 1964. He handed over to the newly elected Prime Minister Mohamed Mahgoub on June 8, 1965.
His talents turned to diplomacy as Ambassador to Italy from September 1965 and as Ambassador to Britain from the resumption of relations in March 1968. After the revolution on May 25, 1969, he remained in England for a time until President Nimeri assured him of a safe return. He became advisor to the Minister of Higher Education and then took over the post after the cabinet reshuffle in October 1972. He got further promotion in May 1973.
Leading educationist and former Prime Minister knighted by Queen Elizabeth during her state visit to the Sudan in February 1965. Gifted as a teacher and administrator, highly respected in Southern Sudan where he spent 10 years in educational work for the first attempt at peacemaking at the Round Table Conference during his premiership. A man of intense enthusiasms and of infectious laughter.