{UAH} Former Sudan's falcon-nosed president is back
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Analysis: Exiled Sudan PM return, a gesture to Bashir
Mohanad Hashim
BBC Africa
The former Sudanese Prime Minister al-Sadiq al-Mahdi returned to Khartoum on Thursday after 30 months of self-imposed exile in Cairo.
The octogenarian was received by thousands of supporters in Sudan's largest city of Omdurman.
His arrival was set to coincide with the 132nd anniversary of the beheading of the British colonial figure General Charles Gordon and the fall of Khartoum, in a symbolic act of defiance towards the government of his adversary President Omar al-Bashir.
Al-Mahdi's return comes after Khartoum announced the conclusion of its national dialogue process, which recommended wider participation in the country's governance and stipulated the creation of a prime minister post.
Al-Mahdi had left Sudan following critical remarks he made about the role played by the controversial Rapid Deployment Force, a pro-government force that has been accused of human rights violations.
Since his departure, the RDF has been put under the immediate supervision of the presidency and its commander was promoted to the rank of Lt Gen.
While al-Mahdi is Sudan's last freely elected premier and enjoys the wide support of his Ansar sect, his influence has diminished in the last two decades. Some consider the timing of his return as a gesture towards Bashir.
They believe al-Mahdi still harbours hope of taking office. Pictures on social media showed al-Mahdi riding his horse flanked by three of his sons, two of whom work as an advisor to President Bashir and an officer in the security forces, respectively.
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