Uncertain days ahead

Sudan’s Defence Minister Awad Ibn Auf said yesterday that he is stepping down as head of the country’s transitional military council, a day after former President Omar Al Bashir was overthrown in a coup. Lt Gen Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan will be the new head of the transitional military council, Ibn Auf said in a speech broadcast on state television on Friday.

Ibn Auf said: “I, the head of the military council, announce I am giving up the post.” He said he took the decision to preserve unity of the armed forces. Tens of thousands of Sudanese protesters have been rallying in front of the military headquarters in Khartoum, against the military takeover of power after ousting Al Bashir on Thursday.

The head of the military council’s political committee, Gen Omar Zein Abedeen, earlier said the council would hold a dialogue with political entities. The council also announced that it would not extradite Al Bashir to face accusations of genocide at the international Criminal Court. Instead he might go on trial in Sudan. Friday’s announcement of a future civilian government by Zein Abedeen, appeared aimed at reassuring mistrustful demonstrators who went back into the streets to warn against imposing army rule after Al Bashir’s ouster.