The head of Sudan’s Transitional council, Awad Ibn Auf has stepped down a day after long-time leader Omar al-Bashir was toppled in a coup.
Awad Auf announced his decision in a broadcast on state TV on Friday, and named as his successor Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan.
His announcement comes after protesters refused to leave the streets, saying the coup leaders were too close to Mr Bashir. The army has insisted that it is not seeking power and Sudan’s future would be decided by the protesters.
Ibn Auf was head of military intelligence during the Darfur conflict. Mr Bashir has been indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity over that conflict.
He was earlier sworn in as Head of the Transitional Council in the oil-rich country. In his TV statement, Mr Ahmed declared a state of emergency for three months and a curfew for one month. He said that a military council would be formed to run the country during the transitional two year period.
“I, the Minister of Defense and head of the Supreme Security Committee, announce the removal of the regime, the arrest of its head (al-Bashir), and his detention in a safe location. I also announce the following: firstly, the formation of a transitional military council to take over the administration of the nation’s government for a transitional period of two years; the suspension of the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of Sudan of 2005; the declaration of a state of emergency for three months and a curfew for one month, from 22:00 to 04:00 (local time); the closing of Sudanese airspace for 24 hours, as well as all ports of entry in Sudan until further notice,” Ahmed Ibn Auf, Sudan’s Defense Minister said.
