Background
Mamoun Beheiry was born on October 1925 into a princely family at Darfur.
Mamoun Beheiry was born on October 1925 into a princely family at Darfur.
Primary education at Wad Medani; higher education in Egypt at Victoria College, Alexandria. Continued his studies in England at Brasenose College, Oxford University for a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics in 1949.
After joining the Ministry of Finance as an inspector in 1950 he rose rapidly to become Deputy Permanent Under-secretary in 1958. He was appointed the first governor of the Bank of Sudan when it was set up in 1960. His international reputation grew quickly too as Sudanese delegate to the International Monetary Fund and the International Development Council. He became chairman of the National Technical Planning Committee injuly 1962.
President Abboud made him Finance Minister in 1963 when drastic steps were needed to stabilise the economy. He did not flinch from taking them. On President Abboud’s state visit to Britain in 1964 he was made an honorary Knight Commander of St Michael and St George.
After the fall of Abboud he spent most of the next five years out of the country as first president of the African Development Bank with his headquarters at Abidjan in the Ivory Coast. His reputation was further enhanced by his work on the United Nations Committee assessing the economic and social consequences of disarmament. President Nimeri appointed him to channel international aid to the Southern Sudan after the peace settlement.
One of the greatest financial brains in the country, twice a bank president, whose name is held in high esteem in world monetary circles. Oxford- educated aristocrat with a natural flair for economics and financial administration. Independent-minded and outspoken, not worried over whose toes he treads on.