As the post-Omar Al-Bashir era beckons in Sudan, the country’s powerful intelligence service has announced that it is freeing all political detainees, state media said on Thursday.
“The National Intelligence and Security Service announced it is releasing all political detainees across the country,” the official SUNA news agency said.
The Sudanese army had earlier announced same day the formation of a transitional council after the resignation of Al-Bashir following weeks of protests in Khartoum.
The transitional council is headed by Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf, First Vice President and Defense Minister of Sudan, the army was reported as saying.
The Sudanese Professionals Association, which has spearheaded the protests, said they will only accept the handover of power to a civilian transitional government.
Protesters gathered in front of the military headquarters as army vehicles were deployed on key roads and bridges in Khartoum. They were reportedly shouting “It has fallen, we won,” a Reuters report said.
Meanwhile, former and current Sudanese officials including Bashir’s former Vice President Ali Osman Taha and acting head of the National Congress Party Ahmed Haroun were reportedly arrested, as well as Bashir’s personal guards. Khartoum’s airport was also closed.
Secret police frees political detainees in Sudan
Sudanese police arrive at Khartoum airport on April 6, 2019. - Protests have rocked the east African country since December, with angry crowds accusing Bashir's government of mismanaging the economy that has led to soaring food prices and regular shortages of fuel and foreign currency. (Photo by - / AFP)