Sudan has a new interim head of state and leader of its military council, Lieutenant General Abdul Fatah Burhan, the outgoing Armed Forces’ Inspector.
His appointment was announced late Friday by Sudan’s Defence Minister and outgoing head of its military council, Awad Ibn Auf who also announced his decision to quit as the country’s interim leader in a broadcast on state TV following more protests and disenchantment with the military over its hijack of the revolution.
Auf is stepping down a day after deposing Omar al-Bashir in a coup on Thursday. He had earlier denied the ousted president’s claim of resignation amidst huge protests that began a week ago.
Protesters refused to quit the streets in Khartoum after denouncing the military council for latching on the protesters to grab power and announce a longer transition period than was expected.
The council had early Friday announced that it would not extradite Bashir to face allegations of genocide at the international war crimes court. Instead he would go on trial in Sudan.
The army which also announced a civilian government headed by the military council’s political committee, General Omar Zain al-Abideen, appeared aimed at reassuring demonstrators who took to the streets to warn against imposing military rule after Bashir’s overthrow.
Abideen pledged that the military council would not interfere with the civilian government. However he said the defence and interior ministries would be under the council’s control.
He said the military council had no solutions to Sudan’s crisis and these would come from the protesters.
“We are the protectors of the demands of the people,” he said. “We are not greedy for power.”
Earlier on Friday, thousands of Sudanese demonstrators camped outside the defence ministry to push for a civilian government, defying a curfew and calling for mass prayers.