Sudan Political Service

They were distinguished from those members of the Sudan Civil Service who served on military, departmental, or technical staffs.

Sir Evelyn Baring (later Lord Cromer), the British agent and consul-general, wished to establish a corps of civilian administrators permanently whose only duty was to administer Sudan.

Military officers, though they became a minority, nevertheless continued to serve in the Sudan Political Service, either on pensionable or contract terms.

Of the nine governors-general, only one, Sir Lee Stack, rose from the Political Service.

There is some ambiguity as to the exact end date of the Sudan Political Service.

Wilfred Thesiger, perhaps the most famous former SPS officer, became one of the United Kingdom's leading explorers.