Sudanese Military seizes power from the President Omar al-Bashir
In a big development, the armed forces of Sudan have successfully overthrown and arrested the President of the country Omar al-Bashir after many months of protests against his rule of 30-year rule. General Awad Ibn Auf stated that the President was taken to a safe place after his regime was toppled. Auf also announced the formation of a military-led transitional government which will be in place for 2 years.
The General said, “the armed forces will take power with the representation of the people to pave way for the Sudanese people to live in dignity”. A three-month state of emergency has also been declared along with the suspension of the 2005 Constitution. Sudan’s airspace has also been closed for 24 hours alongside its border crossings until any further information.
The major governmental institutions of Sudan also including the National Assembly and National Council of Ministers stand dissolved. Ibn Auf also stated that Sudan will soon prepare for free and fair elections. The announcement made by the General came after a sixth successive day of protests outside of the Khartoum the headquarters of the Sudanese army. Many demonstrators also staged a mass sitting process outside the complex for urging the army to ensure a peaceful removal of power of the President. The Sudanese Professionals Association which has led the protests so far have completely rejected the move made by the military and have further pledged to hold more demonstrations.
The protests against the President who had come to power in 1989 and is also wanted by the International Criminal Court had actually started in December, due to the astronomical rise in bread prices. The protests later took shape into calls for his removal from office. The President is held responsible for the mismanagement of the Sudanese economy, thereby resulting in a steep rise in food prices, shortages of fuel along with shortages in cash. The Girifna movement representatives stated that they will continue to organise further protests until their demands are met. Their demands include a four-year period of transition during which technocrats take over the country and prepare it for a democracy. Also, they want the army to protect them and not rule over them.
Bashir’s downfall has actually followed the toppling over of the Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika who had to step down due to massive protests in the country seeking his removal from power.
