The first executive committee was made up of Fatima Talib Isma'il, Khalida Zahir and Fatima Ahmed Ibrahim.[1] Talib was President of the Union from 1952-6.[2] The establishment of the Union was one of the most important events in the struggle against colonialism in Sudan. It enabled women to mobilise to understand and protect their social, economic and civil rights.[2] It was set up under pan-Africanist and socialist ideologies.[6]