Protesters in Sudan demand civilian government after military coup
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Protesters in Sudan are calling for a civilian transitional government following the military coup that saw the ouster of President Omar Hassan al-Bashir.
Awad Mohamed Ahmed Ibn Auf, the country's defense minister and a member of the president's inner circle, announced that a state of emergency would be put in place for three months and a curfew from 10 pm to 4 am would continue for one month. A military council is set to run the country for two years.
But Sudanese protesters rejected the proposal, and our Observers say many continue to demonstrate in the streets in the capital of Khartoum to demand that the military leaders be replaced by a civilian council.
"They got rid of one thief just to put another one his place," protesters are seen chanting in the Facebook video below.
A protester in Khartoum, Sudan, holds a sign that says, "We will not replace one 'kouz' with another," a reference to the Muslim Brotherhood, which al-Bashir has ties to. (Photo: Ismail Mohamed Hamed)
The people do not want a transitional military council. Change will not happen with Bashir’s entire regime hoodwinking Sudanese civilians through a military coup. We want a civilian council to head the transition. #Sudan
Alaa Salah (@iAlaaSalah) 11 avril 2019
"We're scared that things will get worse"
Abdelrahim Abdelilah, a Sudanese shopkeeper who lives in France, was visiting Khartoum and took part in the protests.
We waited all day for this announcement from the army, but it's far from satisfactory.
A video taken by Abdelrahim Abdelillah using a drone.
Now, everyone in my neighborhood is protesting and demanding that the system ends. But it's a tense situation because the defense minister put in a curfew beginning at 10 p.m. We're scared that things will get worse. My mother and sister stayed at home, and we, the men, went out.
Nothing has changed. The minister has been by Omar al-Bashir's side for a long time, they came to power together and they are the same. We don't want anymore of this, we don't want the military to be in power. We had 30 years with al-Bashir, a military man, and before him there were others. We want a regular leader, a civilian.
A video taken near El Mek Nimir avenue in Khartoum, Sudan, shows protesters chanting "civilian."
“People won't leave until there is a real regime change”
Ismail Mohamed Hamed, who works in marketing in Khartoum, was protesting in front of the military headquarters after Auf's announcement.
People were enthusiastic before the announcement because they hoped for real change. But when they heard it, they were very disappointed.
A video taken by Ismail Mohamed Hamed after al-Bashir's ouster shows protesters chanting "liberty."
I was in front of the headquarters all day, and hundreds of people are still there. They say they won't leave until there is a real regime change. They don't accept the one who was named and say they're ready to continue protesting for months, until their demands are heard.
This story was written by Sarra Grira.