Sudan military coup ousts President Omar al-Bashir

Sudan’s defense minister, Awad Mohamed Ahmed Ibn Auf announced on state television Thursday that President Omar al-Bashir has been detained and a military council will lead the country for two years. Further, the Constitution has been suspended, the National Assembly dissolved, and a state of emergency declared.

Protesters are demanding the power be placed in a civilian government instead of a military takeover.

The African Union Commission released a statement that a military takeover is not “the appropriate response for the challenges facing Sudan and the aspirations of its people.”

Since December, ongoing protests in Sudan resulted in hundreds of arrests and dozens of deaths. The UN had condemned the government’s use of force against protesters.

Source: Jurist