Cairo — In a rare public appearance after years of silence, former Sudanese intelligence chief Lt. Gen. Salah Abdallah “Gosh” stressed that “the top priority at this stage is safeguarding Sudan’s security and stability.” He warned of “planned threats” targeting the Northern State, emphasizing that his primary concern is “protecting its residents from any unrest or potential instability.”
According to local media reports citing activist Ahmed Abdel‑Wahab, Gosh made the remarks during a private gathering at his home in Cairo’s Fifth Settlement district. The meeting included several Sudanese and Arab figures and was held in honor of Azhari al‑Mubarak, a native of Northern State known for his social and humanitarian initiatives.
From a Social Gathering to a Political Discussion
Abdel‑Wahab explained that the organizers initially insisted the invitation was “purely social.” Yet the conversation soon turned to the pressing security and political challenges Sudan faces amid the ongoing war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since early 2023.
Drawing on his long experience handling sensitive intelligence and security files, Gosh said that “each phase requires people capable of addressing its particular challenges,” calling for “carefully measured steps” to restore stability. He warned that Sudan is passing through a “critical juncture” that demands wise leadership and national awareness to prevent further division.
Northern State in the Spotlight
Gosh reiterated concerns he had voiced even during the former regime, claiming that “militia‑style groups” are planning activities that threaten Northern State’s security. He urged local residents to remain vigilant and united in defense of their communities.
His remarks come amid growing tension across the north from Merowe to Dongola driven by displacement, increased armed activity along Sudan’s borders with Egypt and Libya, and rising smuggling through the vast desert routes.
Observers warn that if the conflict spills from the capital and western regions into the north, it would pose an additional threat to Sudan’s unity and the survival of its already fragile institutions.
Praise for Local Figures and Calls for Development
During the gathering, Gosh praised Azhari al‑Mubarak, describing him as “a capable and committed figure who can serve both Sudan and Northern State,” adding that his initiatives have “institutional and developmental value and are widely appreciated.”
He emphasized that Sudan needs “integrated national projects” to rebuild trust between the central government and the peripheries. Gosh noted that “youth camps and civic initiatives in the north are helping close the historical gap with western regions,” a divide he described as “one of the most persistent obstacles faced by successive governments since independence in 1956.”
A Conciliatory Tone Coupled with Caution
Despite the security focus of his remarks, Gosh adopted a conciliatory tone, asserting that “positive changes are beginning to emerge despite voices calling for division.” He urged Sudanese to preserve national unity and reject rhetoric that fuels regional animosity.
Analysts see his comments as part of ongoing efforts to reopen communication channels between northern elites and the state apparatus in the midst of deepening political and security fragmentation. Some interpret his reappearance in Cairo as an attempt to play a mediating role from abroad, leveraging his former position and wide regional connections.
Background and the Significance of His Return
Salah Gosh ranks among Sudan’s most influential security officials of the past two decades. He held key posts under the former regime and played a pivotal role in counterterrorism operations and regional security coordination, maintaining direct ties with intelligence services across Arab and Western capitals.
Following the ouster of President Omar al‑Bashir in 2019, Gosh withdrew from public life, only to reemerge in discussions as the war between the SAF and RSF deepened and debate grew over the future of Sudan’s security architecture.
Gosh is also widely known as a long‑time member of Sudan’s Islamic Movement and has been associated since the 1990s with the Muslim Brotherhood, which served as the ideological core of al‑Bashir’s former regime. He played a key role in consolidating Islamist influence within the state’s security institutions and was one of the main architects of coordination between political and security bodies during that period.
With the changes that swept the region after 2019 and mounting international pressure on Islamist movements—especially as Brotherhood networks weakened—Gosh and his political circle found themselves navigating a new landscape. Analysts suggest that his reemergence in Cairo, while he avoided overt ideological references, may reflect an attempt to reposition himself within this evolving environment, presenting himself and like‑minded figures less as ideological actors and more as national experts in security and governance. This comes amid persistent global caution toward the legacy of political Islam in Sudan and the wider region.
Broader Implications
For many observers, Gosh’s reappearance carries multiple messages: reassurance to military and political constituencies in the north, and confirmation that Sudan’s security file remains under the close watch of former state officials, even as formal institutions lose authority inside the country.
Amid ongoing conflict and fragmentation, his call to preserve stability may resonate with sections of the Sudanese elite. Yet it might also signal broader efforts to reshape Sudan’s political and security landscape from outside its borders, as internal forces continue to struggle for solutions to a war that has drained the nation’s strength and cohesion.
