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Live: Protests continue in Sudan after Bashir toppled in 'coup'

Live
Live: Protests continue in Sudan after Bashir toppled in 'coup'
Sudanese president arrested, army to take power for two-year "transitional period"
Key Points
Joy over Bashir's exit becomes anger at 'military coup', state of emergency
Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir has been arrested
Defence Minister Awad Ahmad Ibn Auf sworn in to lead 'transition'

Live Updates

5 years ago

Sudan's army will take control of Sudan for a "transitional period" of two years, Sudan's defence minister Ahmad ibn Auf declared on state TV.

Declaring they would dismantle the "criminal regime" ibn Auf also said the national constitution has been dissolved and a state of emergency has been put in place for three months. 

5 years ago

A lot of speculation has gone into whether Sudan's military will side with the people or hijack the revolution.

Tagheed Elsanhouri argues that the military is the only government institution inside Sudan that can ensure a peaceful transition.

While Willow Berridge discusses how Sudanese democrats fear the army might hijack the transition in the "name of siding with the people to preserve their privileges."

5 years ago

Sudanese protesters celebrate, on the ground and online, amidst reports that long-term dictator President Omar al-Bashir has been removed and political prisoners detained under his rule are being released.

Images shared on social media show Sudanese men slaughtering cattle to mark the occasion, in a practice akin to the Muslim Eid celebrations of feeding friends and the poor.

Another image shows a Sudanese boy carrying a sign that reads "It fell, dad. Come and rejoice and live with us"

5 years ago

With the arrest of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in London coming the same day as reports of Omar Bashir’s removal as President of Sudan, it’s worth noting the role that cables leaked by WikiLeaks had in exposing the corruption at the heart of Bashir’s administration.

In 2010, a set of released US diplomatic cables revealed that the president had siphoned as much as $9bn out of Sudan and stashed it in London banks.

One senior US official appeared to indicate that if the extent of Bashir’s embezzlement were known, it could destroy much of the public’s trust in his administration.

“Ocampo suggested if Bashir’s stash of money were disclosed (he put the figure at possibly $9 billion), it would change Sudanese public opinion from him being a “crusader” to that of a thief,” he said, referring to International Criminal Court Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo. “Ocampo reported Lloyds bank in London may be holding or knowledgeable of the whereabouts of his money.”

“Ocampo suggested exposing Bashir had illegal accounts would be enough to turn the Sudanese against him.”

Assange
5 years ago

Protesters have come out in Khartoum to celebrate the rumoured exit of Bashir and send a message that their protests will continue.

5 years ago

All political prisoners have been ordered released by Sudan's security forces, Sudan's state news agency announced. 

Meanwhile, opposition leader Sadig al-Mahdi told Al-Hadath TV that Omar al-Bashir and members of his government are under house arrest. 

5 years ago

For four months Sudanese protesters have been demanding President Omar al-Bashir exit and now their demand may be delivered. 

Reports quoting government insiders said Bashir has stepped down and the army said it would make an announcement. 

Protesters flocking to the mass sit-in outside the army headquarters are waiting on that announcement while also warning that whatever happens, power must be handed to a civilian government.