Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir forced out of power after military takeover
- In one day, army has suspended constitution, dissolved government, declared a state of emergency, closed borders and airspace and imposed a night curfew
Sudan’s military ousted President Omar al-Bashir on Thursday, ending his 30 years in power in response to escalating popular protests. The defence minister announced military rule for two years, imposing an emergency clampdown that risks inflaming protesters who have demanded civilian democratic change.
After the military’s announcement, protest organisers vowed to continue their rallies until a civilian transitional government is formed. Tens of thousands of protesters were massed at a sit-in they have been holding outside the military’s headquarters in Khartoum.
The military’s coup brought an end to a president who came to power in a coup of his own in 1989, backed by the military and Islamist hardliners, and who had survived multiple blows that could have brought him down.
Over his three decades in power, al-Bashir was forced to allow the secession of South Sudan after years of war, a huge blow to the north’s economy. He became notorious for a brutal crackdown on insurgents in the western Darfur region that made him an international pariah, wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes. The United States targeted his government repeatedly with sanctions and air strikes for his support of Islamic militant groups.
Throughout, he maintained his swagger, famed for his onstage appearances dancing with his cane before cheering crowds.
