General Ibn Auf resigns after leading coup in Sudan

The head of Sudan military council and defense minister General Awad Ibn Auf has stood down a day after taking over as the leader of the military council that replaced the toppled government of long-time leader Omar al-Bashir.

General Auf Ibn announced his decision to step down on state Television and named Lt-Gen Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan as his successor.

“I, the head of the military council, announce I am giving up the post,” said Ibn Auf just a day after swearing in as the head of the transitional military council.

“This is for the benefit of our nation, without having to look at special interests, big or small that may impede its progress. I would like to recommend that you work together and reach a solution very speedily,” he added in a brief statement.

Talking about his successor, Gen Auf said that he was confident Burhan “will steer the ship to safe shores”, and he added that he was stepping down to “preserve unity” of the armed forces.

The army still maintains its position to stay in power for two years of transition after which elections will be held to choose a new leader.

On the other hand, the protesters have also vowed not to leave the streets until they have ensured that the military has handed over to a civilian government.

Mr. Bashir’s government was overthrown on Thursday following several months of protests that began in December last year sparked by rising bread prices in the country.

Bashir faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity. However, the military council has declined to extradite Mr. Bashir leaving a possibility for him to be tried in Sudan.

Lt-Gen Abdel Fattah, the new man in charge is reported to have a cleaner record compared to other generals in the army. He reportedly met with the protesters to hear their grievances during the demonstrations.

Following Gen Awad speech of stepping down, the protesters in Khartoum were seen jumping into jubilation. They claim that they managed to topple President Omar al-Bashir after four months of protests and now they have brought down Ibn Auf too in less than 48 hours.

Reports indicate that protesters are waiting to see what plans Burhan has to determine whether he is the kind of leader they would want to lead them in the process of transition or else they continue with their sit-in.

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