Media

Home page

Media

Sudan’s Bashir to step down, sources say

11 April 2019 10:10 (UTC +04:00)

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir is set to step down, Al Arabiya sources confirmed adding that some current and former officials have been arrested, ONA reports.

Sources also said the Khartoum airport has been closed down. Al Arabiya sources also stated that counter-coup attempt in Sudan failed.

According to sources, the Sudanese army announced the formation of a transitional council headed by defense minister Awad Ibnouf. Sudanese military vehicles were deployed on key roads, bridges in Khartoum and people were chanting “it has fallen, we won”, Reuters reported.

It was earlier reported that the Sudanese army will make an “important statement soon,” state television and radio announced Thursday, as thousands of protesters camped outside the military headquarters in Khartoum demanding the resignation of President Omar al-Bashir.

State media offered no further details, as the rally outside the army complex entered its sixth day. Several military vehicles carrying troops entered the army compound in the early hours of Thursday, witnesses told AFP. The compound also houses Bashir’s official residence and the defense ministry.

Meanwhile, the United States voiced hope Wednesday after Sudanese security forces held fire on a mounting anti-government rally, with Washington renewing calls for Khartoum to allow peaceful protests.

Tibor Nagy, the US assistant secretary of state for Africa, said he was “heartened” at the relative calm overnight Tuesday after police ordered forces not to intervene. “We call on the government of Sudan to respect the rights of all Sudanese people to express grievances peacefully,” he tweeted.

Thousands of protesters were camped out of the army headquarters Wednesday for the fifth day, in what is seen as the biggest threat yet to President Omar al-Bashir’s three decades of rule.

Officials say 49 people have died in protest-related violence since demonstrations erupted in December over a sharp hike in the price of bread. The United States, Britain and Norway in a joint statement on Tuesday said that Sudanese authorities needed to respond to the popular demands and “deliver a credible plan for this political transition.”