Sudanese Protesters Reject Military Junta,Demand Civilian Govt ‘Now’

Sudanese demonstrators who have been holding protests against the deposed President Bashar Al-Bashir have rejected the setting up of a transitional military council to run the country for two years. They have pledged to continue with the protests until a civilian government is put in place.

Reuters reports that the protestors have called for mass Friday prayers outside the defence ministry compound, a focal point for protests.

The activists, clad in yellow vests, were reportedly controlling traffic around the Ministry of Defence compound on Friday morning and managed foot traffic to and from the sit-in. They also blocked a major bridge in central Khartoum, the Capital City.

The country’s Defence Minister Awad Mohamed Ahmed Ibn Auf said elections would be held at the end of the two-year interim period. He further announced a curfew from 10 pm to 4 am.

Ibn Auf is expected to meet journalists later on Friday today (today).

Bashir’s fall follows hot on the heels of another Arab leader who was forced out of office through a popular uprising.

Algeria’s Abdelaziz Bouteflika, in power since 1999, stepped down on April 2 after six weeks of protests. Protests erupted after he had announced that he will seek another term whilst he was bedridden.

Meanwhile, world powers, including the United States and Britain, said they supported a peaceful and democratic transition sooner than two years.
ZBC News