In a statement on Sudan State TV today, the Sudan’s Minister of Defense, Awad Mohamed Ahmed Ibn Auf announced President Omar al-Bashir’s removal.
During his 30-year rule, Bashir was a master at playing rival factions among security services, the military, Islamists and armed tribes off against each other. But he underestimated the anger of young Sudanese men and women demanding an end to economic hardships.
Sudan protests started in 2018 over the rising costs of bread and fuel and quickly spiralled into calls for the overthrow of President Omar El-Bashir. On February 22, Bashir imposed a nationwide state of emergency to quell the protests after an initial crackdown failed to rein in the rallies.
Former President Omar El-Bashir
Meanwhile, the crowds converged outside Sudan’s military headquarters in central Khartoum to celebrate news of President Omar El-Bashir’s removal.
The demonstrators called for a civilian government and said they would not accept an administration led by military and security figures or Bashir’s aides.
El-Bashir, who seized power in a bloodless coup in 1989, was at the presidential residence under heavy guard.according to Sudan’s Minister of Defense statement.
Facing an International Criminal Court arrest warrant over the death of an estimated 300,000 people in Darfur, Bashir held on to power as a shield against a trial similar to that of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.
He has sought to play on regional and international differences to improve Sudan's standing and in 2013, he hosted then Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad in Khartoum.
*The statements by Sudan's Minister of Defense, Awad Mohamed Ahmed Ibn Auf.
*He confirmed that President Omar al-Bashir had been forced from power and his government dissolved after months of demonstrations calling for his ouster.
*A two-year military council has been established to oversee a transition of power, ending Bashir's three decades of rule. The defense minister said that Bashir had been forcibly removed and was now being "kept at a safe place."
*A three-month state of emergency has been declared, and a curfew from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. imposed. Ports and medical facilities will be secured.
*Sudan's cabinet, its National Assembly and municipal bodies have been dissolved, and the country's constitution suspended, Ibn Auf said. The judiciary, public prosecution, embassies and diplomatic entities will continue to function as normal.
*All political prisoners, detained by the country's security services since a wave of anti-government demonstrations first gripped the nation in December will be released, the defense minister added.
https://twitter.com/AlHadath/status/1116311696161878016
*Egypt's Comment on Sudan's Developments
In a statement, Egypt's Foreign Ministry expressed support to the "Sudanese people's choice and will. As statement called on the international community to help Sudan to have a peaceful transition and Egypt is following closely and with great concern the current and accelerating developments the brotherly Sudan.
It also affirmed its firm determination to preserve the deep ties between the peoples of the two countries. Earlier today, Sudanese Defence Minister said in an address that Bashir, was under arrest in a safe place and a military council was now running the country.
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