The Sudanese Republican Palace… An architectural masterpiece and a historical value threatened by the flames of battle
Khaled Mahmoud – Cairo
Date: May 12, 2023
Sudanese intellectuals and media professionals have expressed their fears about the possible impact of the ongoing war in Sudan on the Republican Palace after it has become vulnerable to both sides of the conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces. Sudan, whether the Khedivial period or the killing of the former ruler of Sudan, Gordon Pasha. It gains importance since the independence of Sudan took place on its steps, and it also represents an artistic and architectural value with its sections, a museum, and a garden.
The Sudanese journalist and writer, Abd al-Jalil Suleiman, told Emirates Today that the establishment of the palace was historically and architecturally linked to the development of the Sudanese capital. The situation is 4 years, and due to the abundance of mosquitoes in Madani because it is located between the White and Blue Niles, and for considerations related to river supplies, the capital shifted to Khartoum, which was just a small village at the time, at the very moment the decision was made. Suleiman continued, “The remarkable improvement of the palace occurred in 1851, and it was rebuilt with red bricks, and new wings were added to it, such as the visitors’ wing and the women’s wing.”
And Suleiman went on to say that “the Mahdist movement, when Khartoum was conquered in 1885, refused to use the palace at that time as it contained colonial symbolism, and although the Mahdists demolished many buildings from those that were done during the English or Khedive era, for a reason we do not know, they left it as it is and moved the seat of government to Omdurman, which It was also similar to a small village, but the most important event in the history of Sudan and the history of the palace at that stage remains the killing of Gordon Pasha on his stairs on January 26, 1885.
Suleiman noted that with the Kitchener campaign, and the beginning of what was known as the Anglo-Egyptian condominium, the palace had its second leap, as the English ruler, Sir Wingate, laid out for him the general plan in 1906, which formed the features with which he was later associated, as it was raised to become two-story, and spaces were added to it. A new one included three suites after the palace witnessed a previous leap during the reign of Khurshid Pasha, 1825-1838 when spaces and bureaus were added to it.
Suleiman pointed out that the palace witnessed an important boom in the era of former President Jaafar Muhammad Nimeiri, when he added new areas to it in 1971, and witnessed another shift during the era of the Salvation Government, as it was rebuilt in agreement with China starting in 2007, and it is sad for every Sudanese that Today, he sees all this history under bombardment, surrounded by the dangers of destruction and vandalism.
Suleiman concluded by saying that the palace acquired several names such as the Sardariya, the Palace of the Governor-General, and the Republican Palace, and it represents a symbol of sovereignty where the seat of the ruler was, the seat of what was known as the Sovereignty Council in the democratic eras, and the headquarters of the additional Council of Ministers, and it has its scientific value, as it includes a documentary library that dates to each era Governance, administration, and the development of the national movement in Sudan, and its artistic and architectural value with its suites and garden.
For his part, the historical researcher Tajuddin Suwar said that the historical value of the palace is summarized in that it is the scene of pivotal events in the history of Sudan, most notably the killing of Gordon and the shattering of his legend after a siege that lasted for 317 days, and Gordon was considered one of Britain’s military heroes, described by the English historian Dominic Solodo in The Telegraph newspaper described him as the most famous general of the Victorian era, as he succeeded in the Second Opium War in China and suppressed its revolution, occupied Beijing and was named after him the Chinese Gordon, after he led a division called the “Forever Victorious Division”. Gordon’s death at Khartoum after these victories came as a shock, and Queen Victoria fell ill as a result. Siwar pointed out that «the killing of Gordon Pasha, was immortalized in a well-known international painting by the English artist George William Joy, which bore the name (Gordon’s Last Stand) and is currently being shown at the Leeds City Art Gallery. It has Charlton Heston.
Sewar added that the second important incident in the history of the palace was the declaration of Sudan’s independence in January 1956 from its land, and the raising of the Sudanese flag with its three colors, blue, yellow, and green, as a symbol of independence.
As for the third pivotal incident of the palace, it is its prominence in the attempted communist coup against Nimeiri in 1971, and Nimeiri’s success in escaping from the families of the putschists and his return to power, and it was reported that the leader of the Sudanese Communist Party, Abdul Khaleq Mahjoub, who was leading the coup, as head of the party, was hiding within its walls on Steps away from Nimeiry’s office
The historical value of the palace is summed up in being the scene of pivotal events in the history of Sudan, most notably the killing of Gordon on his stairs and the shattering of his legend after a siege that lasted for 317 days.
With the Kitchener campaign and the beginning of what was known as the Anglo-Egyptian condominium, the palace had its second leap, as the English governor, Sir Wingate, laid out for him the general plan in 1906, which formed the features with which he was later associated, as it was raised to become two floors and new spaces were added to it to include 3 Wings after the palace witnessed a previous leap during the reign of Khurshid Pasha, 1825-1838 when spaces and divans were added to it.
