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General Abdul Fattah Al-Burhan, Head of the  Sudanese State, After Resignation of the Coup leader, Ouf, Who Was Rejected by Opposition Groups and Protesters

April 13, 2019

General Abdul Fattah Al-Burhan,the new head of Sudan, following Ouf's resignation, April 12, 2019	Former Sudanese president, Al-Bashir, and Hamatti, the government militia commander, who refused to join the military council, leading to the demise of the coup leader, Ouf

 

Ibn Ouf resigns from Sudan’s transitional military council

Sudan Tribune, April 12, 2019 (KHARTOUM) -

Sudan’s Defence Minister General Awad Ibn Ouf has stepped down from his position as head of the Transition Military Council on Friday night and appointed a new general to replace him: General Abdul Fattah Al-Burhan.

The announcement comes after his rejection by the Sudanese protesters led Sudanese Professional Association and its allies of the Freedom and Change forces 24 hours after the overthrow of the former president, Al-Bashir.

In a statement broadcasted via the official TV and Radio stations on Friday evening Ibn Ouf, 65, announced that he decided to resign from his position as head of the Transitional Military Council.

He also relieved his deputy and chief of the general staff Kamal Abdul Marouf who also was perceived as part of the regime of the former President Omer Al-Bashir.

Also, Ibn Ouf announced the appointment of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, a new head of the transitional military council.

Al-Burhan who is not an Islamist is widely accepted by the army. He served as the army’s general inspector and commander of the ground forces.

Thousands of Sudanese took to the street in the night to express their joy for his resignation.

Ibn Ouf who is on the list of US sanctions for his alleged role in Darfur war crimes stated on Friday that al-Bashir would be handed over to the International Criminal Court increasing his unpopularity among the Sudanese.

The Sudanese Professionals Association called on the protesters to remain mobilized awaiting al-Burhan’s position from the demands of the forces of the Freedom and Change Declaration.

The Sudanese opposition groups call for a peaceful transfer of power to the political forces.

http://sudantribune.com/spip.php?article67361

Sudan’s military council says ready to form civilian government

Sudan Tribune, April 12, 2019 (KHARTOUM) -

The Transitional Military Council (TMC) on Friday has expressed readiness to form a civilian government and reduce the transitional period in agreement with the political forces.

Speaking at a press conference in Khartoum, the head of the TMC political committee Omer Zain al-Abdin said the upcoming government would be “civilian”, pointing out that it would be formed by the consensus of the political forces.

He added the military wouldn’t intervene in the formation of the government nor will it appoint any of its members, saying the armed forces would only maintain the defence and interior ministries in order to counter any security challenges.

He pointed that the TMC would consult with all political forces except the former ruling National Congress Party, saying the “TMC supports the demands of the people and seeks to arrange the peaceful transfer of power”.

“We are the protectors of the demands of the political entities and we wouldn’t dictate anything on the people, we came for the sake of the protesters and we wouldn’t allow chaos,” he said

“Our priority now is to maintain security and stability of the country and provide the services and to conduct political dialogue inside Sudan and abroad [i.e. with the international community]” added Zain al-Abdin

He pointed out that the Defence Minister Awad Ibn Ouf, the director of the National Intelligence and Security Services Salah Gosh, the Police Director Al-Tayeb Babiker and the commander of the Rapid Support Forces Mohamed Hamdan Doglo have led the change despite being part of the former regime.

Zain al-Abdin has dismissed all accusations that the TMC is a puppet of the former ruling National Congress Party as mere “lies”, saying they are the sons of the armed forces.

He stressed that the TMC is open to discussions and consultations on reducing the transitional period, saying it could be reduced to one month if all political parties agreed to do so.

He expressed willingness to negotiate with the youth who are holding a mass sit-in in front of the military headquarters to listen to the views.

Commenting on the fate of the deposed president, Omer al-Bashir, Zain al-Abdin said he is being detained without giving further details, pointing the majority of the figures of the former regime have been arrested.

SPA REJECTS TMC OFFER

Meanwhile, the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA) has rejected the offer of the TMC describing it as “absurd deception”.

In a statement seen by Sudan Tribune, the SPA said: “what took place was nothing but changing of masks to maintain the same regime that the people sought to overthrow and uproot”.

“Our demands are clear, fair and legitimate, however, the old coupists in their new masks are not capable of making change and they only seek to cling to power regardless of the safety of the country, and that is why they wouldn’t respond to the peaceful demands including the immediate handover of power to a transitional civilian government”.

The SPA underscored determination to resist the state of emergency and the curfew besides all restrictive orders issued by the coupists.

Sudan militia commander refuses to participate in transitional military council

Sudan Tribune, April 12, 2019 (KHARTOUM) -

The commander of the government militia Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Mohamed Hamdan Daglo (aka Hemitte), has refused to participate in the Transitional Military Council which took over power following the ouster of former President Omer al-Bashir.

On Thursday, the Defence Minister and First Vice- President Awad Ibn Ouf overthrew President Omer al-Bashir and announced his arrest in a safe place.

He said the Supreme Security Committee, including the armed forces, the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS), RSF and the police took full responsibility for changing the whole regime during a two-year transitional period.

In a statement published on the RSF webpage on Friday, Hemitte said: “I’d like to announce to the Sudanese people that I, in my capacity as commander of the RSF, have refused to participate in the military council since 11 April”.

He pointed out that RSF would remain part of the armed forces and would work to maintain the unity of the country and respect for human rights.

Hemitte added his forces would continue to side with the choices of the Sudanese people.

On Friday, the military information department said the formation of the military council has been delayed for further consultations.

It is noteworthy that the militia commander on Thursday issued a statement in which he stressed support for the people’s demand of handing over power to a civil transitional government, saying the RSF rejects any solutions that don’t meet the desires of the Sudanese people.

He also asked the leaders of the Sudanese Professionals Association and the various opposition parties and the youth to open the door of dialogue and engage in negotiations to achieve solutions that satisfy the desire of the people and protects the country against from sliding into chaos.

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Sudanese Defense Minister Overthrows Al-Bashir, the Military Coup Is Rejected by the  Opposition Alliance

April 12, 2019

 

Sudanese Defense Minister, now President, Awad Ibn Ouf, April 11, 2019	People want to build a new Sudan, says a banner held by protesters, April 11, 2019

 

Sudan’s defence minister overthrows al-Bashir

Sudan Tribune, April 11, 2019 (KHARTOUM) -

Sudanese Defense Minister First Vice- President Awad Ibn Ouf overthrew President Omer al-Bashir and announced his arrest in a safe place.

On Thursday afternoon, Ibn Ouf read a military statement on behalf of the Supreme Security Committee, which includes the armed forces, the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS), the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the police.

He said the Committee "decided to carry out what was not expected by the head of the regime and took full responsibility for changing the whole regime during a two-year transitional period," he said before to add that "the armed forces - with a limited representation of the components of that committee - will take is the responsibility of the state administration.

"I, the Minister of Defense, the head of the Supreme Security Committee, announces the uprooting of the regime and the arrest of its head in a safe place."

He explained that the Security Committee has been since the 6 April considering the alternatives and warned of the seriousness of the situation but they were faced by the Stubbornness and insistence on security solutions, without naming al-Bashir.

He added they had been convinced of the impossibility to implement such an option, pointing out that it would have caused significant losses.

Ibn Ouf made his speech after a long delay as it was announced since the early morning.

It came in a bid to end the over four-month protests demanding al-Bashir and his regime to step down.

Ibn Ouf further announced a number of measures including the formation of a Transitional Military Council to rule the country for a two-year transitional period.

The details of this government will be disclosed in a later statement, he said.

Also, he decided to suspend the Interim Constitution of 2005 and announced a three-month state of emergency and a one-month of curfew from 10 pm to 4 am.

He further decided the closure of the airspace for twenty-four hours.

Furthermore, he dissolved the government, the parliament and the presidential cabinet as well as the state governments and legislatures.

Ibn Ouf maintained the unilateral cease-fire throughout Sudan and announced the immediate release of all political prisoners, the creation of a conducive climate for the peaceful transfer of power, the building of political parties, the holding of free and fair elections at the end of the transitional period and the establishment of a permanent constitution.

http://sudantribune.com/spip.php?article67356

Opposition alliance accuses military Islamists of capturing power in Sudan

Sudan Tribune, April 12, 2019 (KHARTOUM) -

The opposition alliance Sudan Call has condemned the military coup in Sudan and accused the "Sudanese Islamic movement military wing" of seizing the power to reproduce the old regime.

The Sudanese defence minister Awad Ibn Ouf Thursday announced that the army has decided to overthrow President Omer al-Bashir and announced a number of decisions including procedural measures to ensure the security situation in Sudan.

However, he did not consult the opposition forces which have been behind the 4-month protests or speak about its role in the transitional period giving them the feeling that their efforts for change have been stolen.

"The takeover has preserved the political and economic structures of the old system, and the new junta has not provided any political solution to end the war, to effect democratic transformation, or a means of solving the economic crisis,". said Yasir Arman, Secretary of External Affairs of the Sudan Call.

" It is old wine in old bottles. For the sake of the Islamists, it is old milk in old bottles," he stressed.

The Sudanese opposition forces have been unanimous on its rejection of the military move as the Sudanese Professionals Association called on the disappointed protesters to remain mobilized outside the army headquarters in Khartoum.

Arman further underlined that the military coup has left untouched the National Congress Party of the unseated President Omer al-Bashir.

The coup "ignored completely the forces of freedom and change, who have led the revolution, and more importantly, they have ignored the demands of the Sudanese people for peace, democracy and equal citizenship," he stressed.

The African Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and the United States, as well as the United Nation, have reacted to the overthrow of President Omer al-Bashir by a military council headed by his First Vice President and Defence Minister.

While the African Union has condemned the move as unconstitutional, the United Nations called to ensure that the democratic aspiration of the Sudanese people will be realized through an appropriate and inclusive transition process.

Also, the United States decided to suspend a process aiming to remove Sudan from a list of state sponsors of terrorism.

"The U.S. government in the coming days will discuss the situation with government officials and a range of Sudanese stakeholders to encourage a democratic transition," further said the State Department on Thursday.

The Sudan Call welcomed the position taken by the African Union, the United Kingdom and the British Foreign Minister, and the United States and called for international pressure on the military junta.

"We appeal to all democratic and peace-loving countries and organizations and to the UN Security Council and its Permanent Members to support the demands of the Sudanese people for peace and democracy," said the statement.

http://sudantribune.com/spip.php?article67358

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8 Sudanese Protesters Killed, as Gathering at Army Headquarters Increases Pressure on Al-Bashir

April 7, 2019

 

Sudanese protesters riding a military vehicle, in Khartoum, April 7, 2019	Sudanese protesters attacked by police tear gas, April 7, 2019

Six Sudanese protesters killed as general strike continues

Sudan Tribune, 

April 7, 2019 (KHARTOUM) -

The Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors (CCSD) on Sunday said 6 protesters have been killed during the protests and the sit-in in front of the Sudanese army headquarters.

On Saturday, the opposition forces declared a general strike as well as an open-ended sit-in in front of the General Command of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) demanding the removal of the regime of President Omer al-Bashir.

The CCSD on Saturday said two protesters have been killed in West Darfur State and Khartoum’s twin city of Omdurman.

In a statement on Sunday, the CCSD said three more protesters have been killed including Amro Gamal, Maab Hanafi and Ahmed Ibrahim Tabidi besides an unidentified protester, pointing that several protesters have sustained serious injuries.

Deadly protests have rocked Sudan since December 19, with demonstrators holding nationwide rallies calling on President Omer al-Bashir to resign.

The government said 31 people have died in the violence, while other credible reports including from Human Rights Watch says at least 51 people have been killed.

Also, dozens of demonstrators have been injured and hundreds arrested during the protests.

http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article67335

Two killed in Sudan’s anti-government protests

Sudan Tribune

April 6, 2019 (KHARTOUM) -

Two people were killed in Khartoum and West Darfur by live bullets on Saturday during the anti-government protests, said the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors (CCSD).

Sudanese protesters run for cover from tear gas canisters fired by police outside the military headquarters in the capital Khartoum on April 6, 2019 (/AFP/Getty Images)

In a statement seen by Sudan Tribune, the CCSD said the killing of the peaceful protesters would only hasten the victory of the revolution.

Reliable sources told Sudan Tribune that a medical laboratory doctor named Al-Muiz Atta Allah Musa, died of his wounds after being shot by live bullet in Khartoum’s twin city of Omdurman.

Also, multiple sources in West Darfur State said a woman was killed at the Khams Dagai’g camp for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

Following the killing of the IDP, large protests erupted in west Darfur capital of Zalingei prompting security forces and the police to use teargas to disperse it.

On Saturday, thousands of Sudanese staged protests in Khartoum and several states demanding the downfall of the regime of President Omer al-Bashir.

Deadly protests have rocked Sudan since December 19, with demonstrators holding almost daily nationwide rallies calling on Bashir to resign.

The government said 31 people have died in the violence, while Human Rights Watch (HRW) put the figures at 51 .

Also, dozens of demonstrators were injured and hundreds others arrested during the protests which are now banned , unless a permit is given, under Bashir emeregncy declaration issued last month.

http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article67332

Thousands of Sudanese rally in front of military headquarters

Sudan Tribune

April 6, 2019 (KHARTOUM) -

Thousands of Sudanese staged protests in front of the General Command of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) demanding the removal of the regime of President Omer al-Bashir.

Sudanese protesters chant slogans outside the army headquarters in Khartoum. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

Last week, the opposition forces of the Declaration of Freedom and Change (DFC) called on the Sudanese to join the April 6 rally heading to the SAF command to demand that the army side with the protesters.

Since the early hours of Saturday, Sudanese authorities sealed off the bridges leading to the capital to prevent protesters from joining the rally. However, thousands managed to break the siege and poured into the streets of downtown Khartoum and managed to arrive at the SAF command.

Security forces and police fired teargas to disperse protesters who gathered in front of the SAF command but army officers reportedly intervened to stop the police action.

Also, thousands of protesters have taken to the streets at a number of states including Kassala, Port Sudan, Gezira, River Nile, West and South Darfur.

Following the rally, DFC issued a statement declaring an open-ended sit-in in front of the SAF command and called on all Sudanese to join .

This is the longest streak of protests in the history of Sudan which now entered its 4th month.

Last February, President Omer al-Bashir declared a state of emergency in a bid to end it but the demonstrations have continued unabated.

http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article67331

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Sudan: Protesters at army HQ keep pressure on Bashir

By Fergal Keane, BBC Africa Editor

April 7, 2019

Thousands of demonstrators are spending a second night camped outside Sudan's army headquarters, demanding that President Omar al-Bashir step down.

They appear to be hoping for an internal coup, pleading with the army command to remove Mr Bashir and open the way for a transitional government.

It is the biggest protest against Mr Bashir since unrest began in December.

Mr Bashir has refused to leave, saying opponents should seek power through elections. The army has not intervened.

Security forces have fired tear gas to try to disperse protesters outside the army compound in the capital, Khartoum.

The latest rallies mark the 34th anniversary of the coup that overthrew the regime of former President Jaafar Nimeiri.

In previous protests they have also used stun grenades and live bullets. Dozens of demonstrators have been killed.

On Saturday, a protester died in Khartoum's twin city of Omdurman, police said.

Sudan's information minister has reaffirmed the government's plan to resolve the crisis through talks and praised the security forces.

Unpredictable political struggle

Certainly the scenes in Khartoum are impressive. Nothing like these crowds has been witnessed in decades.

But there have been several deaths and there is the possibility of a brutal crackdown operation at any moment.

And even if Mr Bashir were to step down there is no certainty that he would be replaced by the pluralistic government demanded by the demonstrators.

Authoritarian states in 21st Century Africa have become adept at creating the impression of change but delivering little of its substance.

What is unfolding now may be part of a much longer and more unpredictable political struggle.

Why are people protesting?

Journalist Mohamed Ali Fazari, who was at the scene in Khartoum, said protesters were urging the army to side with the people against the government.

The crowd chanted "freedom, freedom, justice - one people one army", he told BBC Focus on Africa radio.

The protests were originally sparked by a hike in the cost of living but are now calling for the president, who has been in power for nearly 30 years, to step down.

Sudan's economy has long been strained since the US imposed sanctions more than 20 years ago, accusing Khartoum of sponsoring terror groups.

Image copyrightAFPImage caption Authorities have used tear gas to try to disperse the protesters

In December last year, the Sudanese government announced the price of fuel and bread would rise.

In the year leading up to this, inflation had risen while the Sudanese pound fell rapidly in value.

The announcement of the price rises triggered protests, which evolved into calls for President Bashir to step down.

His rule has been blighted with accusations of human rights abuses. In 2009 and 2010, the International Criminal Court (ICC) charged him with counts of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. A warrant for his arrest has been issued.

Who are the demonstrators?

The Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA) - a collaboration of health workers and lawyers - has been organising the protests.

Doctors have emerged as a leading force and as a result are being targeted by the authorities.

It is estimated that up two thirds of the protesters are women, who say they are demonstrating against Sudan's sexist and patriarchal society.

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Sudan protests: 'No amount of beating will make us stop'

Media captionSudan protests: 'No amount of beating will make us stop'

How has the president responded?

In February, it looked like he might give in to protests and step down, but instead Mr Bashir declared a state of national emergency.

Image copyrightReuters Image caption President Bashir spoke to the National Dialogue Committee at his palace on 5 April

On the streets, security has been heavy, with tear gas used indiscriminately and reports of violence commonplace.

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Sudan protests: People flee gunshots in deadly protest

Media captionSudan protests: People flee gunshots in deadly protest

Sudanese authorities have been accused of arresting prominent activists and targeting medics, which the National Intelligence Security Service has denied.

Authorities say 32 people have died in protest-related violence so far, but Human Rights Watch says the figure is more like 51.

The pressure group Physicians for Human Rights says it has evidence of killing, persecution and torture of peaceful protesters and the medics caring for them.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-47846334

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