In a twist that would have global implications, Sudan became an unlikely sanctuary for international terrorism. In the early 1990s, Sudan became the unlikely backdrop for a turning point in modern history when Osama Bin Laden found refuge from 1991 to 1996 under the islamist-aligned leadership of Omar al-Bashir.

In 1989, military leader Omar Al Bashir took control through a coup, but behind the scenes it was Hassan Al Turabi, a powerful islamist intellectual and founder of the national Islamic front, who steered the regime's ideological direction. Turabi's ambitions reached far beyond Sudan's borders as he sought to foster an Islamic Renaissance, seeing Sudan as the nucleus of a movement that could redefine the Muslim world.

Hassan Al Turabi created the popular Arab and Islamic conference, positioning it as a counterpoint against what he perceived as America's attempts to dominate the Islamic World, and Sudan became a sanctuary for islamist activists from countries like Algeria, Tunisia, and Egypt.

Business Empire

Bin Laden presented himself as a wealthy businessman with an estimated fortune of $200 million, and his Construction companies spearheaded key infrastructure projects including a highway linking Khartoum to Port Sudan and a new airport. But these were fronts for something far more sinister.

These Enterprises were fronts for al-Qaeda's growing Global Network - his businesses became hubs for Distributing weapons and tactical expertise to islamist militant groups worldwide. Bin Laden reportedly spent $2 million to transport mujahidin from Pakistan to Sudan and constructed 23 training camps, which by 1994 had trained at least 5,000 Fighters.

Trucks from his Transport company smuggled arms and Fighters while the camps provided training in guerrilla Warfare, bomb making and other Terror tactics. His Soba Farm became a crucial operational base stockpiling explosives that were smuggled to Yemeni Rebels via Port Sudan, often with the help of Sudanese Military Officers.

Sudan as Central

Sudan's strategic location at the crossroads of the Middle East, North Africa and the Horn of Africa provided Al-Qaeda with unparalleled advantages, with porous borders and government support allowing Ben Laden's Network to flourish.

The consequences were devastating:

1. Sudanese trained assassins killed an Egyptian Parliament speaker
2. Algerian Veterans of the Afghan war, having trained in Sudan, launched an Insurgency in Algeria
3. Libyan operatives trained in Sudan attempted to assassinate Muammar Gaddafi in 1993
4. Palestinian Hamas members used the training to carry out suicide bombings in Gaza

The height of Sudan's involvement in global terrorism came in June 1995 when an attempt to assassinate Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak in Ethiopia narrowly failed - about 100 to 150 Egyptian militants had prepared in a Sudanese Camp before Crossing into Ethiopia.

American Response

In 1993, the United States officially designated Sudan as a state sponsor of terrorism, accusing it of supporting groups like Al-Qaeda, Hamas and Hezbollah.

By 1996, Bin Laden's presence in Sudan had become a liability - International pressure combined with worsening economic conditions led Al Bashir's government to reconsider its alliance with bin Laden. Sudan offered to extradite him to Saudi Arabia but the Saudis refused fearing his return would destabilize the kingdom, so with no other options Sudan expelled Bin Laden and in May 1996 he relocated to Afghanistan.

In retaliation for the 1998 Embassy bombings, US President Bill Clinton ordered missile strikes on a pharmaceutical Factory in Khartoum claiming it was involved in chemical weapons production, although the claims were later debunked - Sudan lost a significant portion of its pharmaceutical production capabilities.