Zain Holds Major Memorial Event in Khartoum for Late Elfatih Erwa

Khartoum – Sudanhorizon

The Sudanese mobile telecommunications company Zain Sudan organized a major memorial event on Saturday in Khartoum to honor the late Lt. Gen. Pilot Elfatih  Mohamed Ahmed Erwa, the company’s Managing Director and CEO.

The event witnessed broad official and community participation, including representatives of state institutions, public figures, and members of the late leader’s family. It marked the first major social event held in Khartoum following the restoration of stability and the city’s emergence from the war. Among those in attendance were the Prime Minister’s representative, Ahmed Al-Dardiri Ghandour, Minister of Digital Transformation and Communications; Gibril Ibrahim; and Ahmed Othman Hamza.

The event was held at the Al Salam Rotana Hotel, where the documentary project titled “The Departure of the Samurai” was launched. The project documents the life of the late Erwa through a documentary film, a book compiling the most notable writings about him, and a photographic exhibition showcasing key stages of his life from May 1950 to April 2025.

Throughout his career, the late Erwa held numerous leadership positions across military, diplomatic, security, and constitutional sectors, before dedicating his later years to business and economic development through his leadership of Zain since 2008 until his passing on April 9, 2025, in the United States after a courageous battle with illness.

In his address as guest of honor representing the Prime Minister, Ahmed Al-Dardiri Ghandour expressed appreciation for the invitation, stating that speaking about Erwa goes beyond words due to the profound impact and lasting legacy he left across all positions he held, particularly in Sudan’s telecommunications sector, where he played a key role in its development. He also paid tribute to the late leader and highlighted his achievements.

For his part, Saleh Mohamed Ali, Senior Director of Corporate Communications at Zain, welcomed attendees from inside and outside Sudan, noting that this strong turnout reflects the deep appreciation Sudanese people have for their national figures. He highlighted Erwa’s pivotal role in the company’s development, including infrastructure modernization, commercial expansion, regional outreach, and contributions to the national economy. He added that the documentary project represents a lasting legacy that will be made available to the public as a window into the most significant aspects of Erwa’s life.

In the same context, Engineer Al-Mustafa Al-Fatih Erwa, the son of the late leader, who traveled from the United States to attend, expressed his deep gratitude to Zain and his father’s colleagues for this initiative. He emphasized that his father was not only a public figure but also deeply connected to the Sudanese people, carrying the concerns of the nation until his final moments, and called for continued efforts to prioritize Sudan’s development.

It is worth noting that Lt. Gen. Pilot El-Fatih Mohamed Ahmed Erwa was born in Khartoum in 1950 into a family known for its military background. His father, Maj. Gen. Mohamed Ahmed Erwa, served in the Sudan Defence Force during World War II and participated in the Battle of Keren. He later became a member of the military council led by Ibrahim Abboud (1958–1964) and held the positions of Minister of Interior and Minister of Trade and Supply.

The late Erwa joined the University of Khartoum in 1968, then the Sudanese Military College (Batch 22) in 1970. He advanced through several military and security roles, including serving in security attaché positions in Moscow and Addis Ababa, and was among the planners and executors of the “Summer of Crossing” operations.

He later served as Sudan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations for a full decade—one of the longest tenures in Sudanese diplomatic history. In 2008, he transitioned to the telecommunications sector as Managing Director and CEO of Zain Sudan, where the company witnessed major transformations in expansion and growth under his leadership. He remained in this role until his passing, leaving a lasting professional and humanitarian legacy.

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