Sudan has finally succeeded in replacing its notorious intelligence Chief Salah Abdallah Mohamed Saleh, also known as Salah Gosh. During his tenure, the government body not only held a bad reputation but also was accused of orchestrating oppressive sweeps and violence against the people.
Gosh, who resigned two days ago, had buckled under the pressure of civil protests that marched for the removal of all stalwarts that served the former regime of the deposed Omar al-Bashir.
Among the host of accusations the former intelligence chief is condemned for by the public are; his spearheading of oppressive operations against demonstrators since December 19th and systematic killings targeting activists over the course of the last four months.
Gosh is believed to also have been plotting, with the help of his CIA connections, to become Sudan’s next president.
Born in 1957 in a far-off north Sudan town, Gosh grew up to graduate from the Faculty of Engineering at Khartoum University, where he participated in political activity linked to the Muslim Brotherhood.
After graduating, Gosh pursued an intelligence career with the Nationalist Islamic Front, led by longtime hard-line ideological leader Hassan Al-Turabi. After a military junta took over the African country in 1989, Gosh officially joined national intelligence apparatuses.
Despite moving up the hierarchy, getting himself appointed as head of operations, Gosh’s career received a serious blow after he was caught plotting to assassinate, then Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak.
The intelligence strongman is also suspected of having close relations with former al-Qaeda chief, Osama bin Laden, whose records show he had a years-long stay in Khartoum until 1998.
In a surprise announcement in 2009, Bashir assigned Gosh as a presidential security advisor. However, his time in the former president’s trustees was short-lived.
About three years later, Gosh was arrested for plotting a coup alongside 13 other military and security top-shelf officials. After his release in 2013, he rejoined the parliament.
Gosh had also played a pivotal role in the dispute between al-Bashir and Turabi back in 1999, when he sided with Bashir.
The Bashir-Gosh partnering preceded the eventual downfall of Turabi.
Gosh's name emerged on the international scene during his close cooperation with the CIA for the handed overall-Qaeda-related information.
