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Israeli-Sudanese relations are unique for their secrecy and inconsistency. This is in a large measure a result of the political instability in Sudan and the poor state of its economy. Unlike most Muslim countries in the periphery of the Middle East, Sudan's initial policy toward Israel was by no means hostile. In fact, bilateral contacts began immediately after Sudan gained its independence from a joint Anglo-Egyptian condominium in 1956. However, many factors militated against a consistent policy on the part of the Sudanese government. The unstable nature of the Sudanese state caused by frequent military take-overs, inter-tribal conflict, and the perennial struggle between Islamic and secular groups were partially to blame for the inconsistency in the country's foreign relations.
In 1958, less than three years after the country's independence, the proWestern regime of Prime Minister Abdallah Khalil was overthrown. This change resulted in an immediate change in the country's foreign policy orientation. As long as Khalil was in power, he maintained cordial relations with the United States and actively sought its assurances against possible aggression from the United Arab Republic. As long as Khartoum maintained a pro-Western orientation, there was little tension in Sudanese-Israeli relations. Little was said or done apart from occasional remarks made by Sudanese officials regarding the tragedy, which the State of Israel brought upon the Palestinian refugees. However, this state of affairs changed radically after the November 1958 military coup, when General Ibrahim Abbud came to power and decided to reorient his country's foreign relations. The new policy called for mending fences with Egyptian President Gamal Abdul Nasser, severing contact with the West, and avoiding any association with Israel.1 Several unstable governments came to power following Abbud's overthrow, but the most significant coup occurred on 25 May 1969, when President Gaafar al-Nimeiri came to power.
In addition to the fragility of its political system, Sudan was never blessed with leaders of great calibre, and the struggle for power remained intense. Initially, Nimeiri was Nasser's staunch supporter and a proponent of pan-Arabism. However, in order to gain greater legitimacy for his regime, he quickly changed his country's foreign policy orientation. Realizing that his pro-Egyptian policy did not earn him handsome dividends, in 1980 he decided that establishing an Islamic regime sanctioned by...