His full name has also been listed by the Sudanese Ministry of Defence as Abdul Rahman Muhammad Hassan Swar Al Thahab.

He became a prominent figure when President Gaafar Nimeiry appointed him Chief of Staff, and then Minister of Defence and general commander of the armed forces in 1984.

[3] In 1985, he launched a coup ousting President Gaafar Nimeiry[4] leading to him becoming the Chairman of the Transitional Military Council.

Following elections, he surrendered power to the government of head of state Ahmed al-Mirghani and prime minister Sadiq al-Mahdi in 1986.

[6][7] In 2004, he received the King Faisal International Prize for his service to Islam.