Background
Salah was born in 1936 at Kadugli, 165 miles south of El Obeid.
Salah was born in 1936 at Kadugli, 165 miles south of El Obeid.
Educated at elementary and intermediate schools in Omdurman and then at Khor Tagat Secondary School. Entered Sudan Military College in 1957 and graduated an officer in 1959.
He was posted to the Signal Corps and later served with the Sudanese contingent in Egypt at the Suez Canal. Having made his mark, he was sent on courses to the United States, Egypt, Ethiopia, West Germany and India.
At the revolution in May 1969 he was responsible for communications. In 1970 he became secretary-general of the Revolution Command Council. As 3 keen sportsman with an interest in young people he was a natural choice for Minister of Youth, Sport and Social Affairs, a post he held after the October 1972 reshuffle. General Nimeri brought him into the presidential office in May 1973.
One of the inner circle who planned the May 1969 revolution but not ambitious enough to push himself forward for a key post. A widely-travelled officer with an easy-going style which enables him to get on well with most people.