El-Ferik Ibrahim Abboud

On November 18, 1958 in a military coup El-Ferik Abboud overthrew the civilian government of Abd Allah Khalil, and he installed a military government, with himself as presiding officer. The constitution was abrogated and opposition parties banned. He charted a course of neutrality in foreign affairs, of agricultural diversification and of industrialization. The failure of his economic program, however, coupled with his policy of "Islamization" of the non-muslim South, created near civil war and led to his resignation (1964) and the restoration of civilian government, which was handed over to Sir Al-Khatim Khalifah