Sudan’s Interim President, Lt Gen Awad Ahmed Ibn Auf
Tens of thousands of Sudanese on Friday continued their sit-in protest to demand the formation of a civilian government, a day after the military took power in a coup.
The East African nation’s army on Thursday overthrew and arrested long-time President Omar al-Bashir and established a military transition council, led by former Vice President and Defence Minister, Awad Ibn Auf, from 2019 to 2021.
Al-Bashir, who was in power for 30 years and is wanted by the International Criminal Court for severe human rights violations in the Darfur region, has been taken to “a safe place,’’ according to the military.
Opposition groups and protesters, however, say the coup does not represent change, calling for free and fair elections to install a civilian government instead.
Tens of thousands of protesters have been staging a mass sit-in at the army headquarters and president’s residence in the capital Khartoum since April 6.
The sit-in was preceded by months of peaceful street protests, which had turned bloody in recent days, with at least 21 deaths and dozens of injured.
Demonstrations began in December 2018, when a sharp hike in bread and fuel prices caused a public outcry.
The oil-rich country’s economy was badly affected when it split with South Sudan in 2011.
The government is currently facing another economic crisis while also battling several rebel groups.
