Sudan's 'tyrant' president Omar al Bashir toppled in military coup

11th April 2019

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By Sky News

Sudan's President Omar al Bashir has been ousted and arrested by the army, according to the country's defence minister.

Awad Mohamed Ahmed Ibn Auf said Mr Bashir - who seized power in a coup of his own in 1989 - had been detained "in a safe place" and that a military council would run the country for the next two years.

In a statement broadcast on state TV, he declared a state of emergency for three months and said "free and fair" elections would be held at the end of the 24-month transitional period.

He also announced a curfew for a month between 10pm and 4am and that Sudan airspace would be closed for 24 hours and all points of entry into the country until further notice.

Mr Bashir, 75, who had previously survived several armed rebellions, is believed to be under house arrest with several aides at the presidential palace, along with a number of Muslim Brotherhood leaders.

In January the autocratic leader had warned the "rats to go back to their holes" and said he would step down only for another army officer or at the ballot box.