Sudan’s military council ruler Ibn Auf steps down

The head of Sudan‘s ruling military council has announced his resignation in a speech broadcast on state television. 

General Awad Ibn Auf’s announcement came late on Friday as tens of thousands rallied in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, demanding a civilian-led transition after the military overthrow of the country’s longtime ruler, Omar al-Bashir. 

“I, the head of the military council, announce I am giving up the post,” Ibn Auf said, adding he took the decision to preserve unity of the armed forces.

Ibn Auf said Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah Adelrahman Burhan will now head the transitional council. 

Al Jazeera’s Hiba Morgan, reporting from Khartoum, said protesters in Khartoum greeted Ibn Auf’s announcement with “ululating and cheering”.

“People are celebrating on the streets; they are saying that they managed to topple President Omar al-Bashir after four months of protests and less than 48 hours after the military council took over, they managed to bring down Ibn Auf, too,” she said.

Burhan is expected to address the Sudanese public on Saturday, Morgan said, adding that the armed forces will be keen to gauge the response from pro-democracy protesters to Ibn Auf’s resignation. 

“The protesters are waiting to see what kind of vision and plan Burhan has, and to see if he is going to be the person they would want to represent them during the transition period, or whether they should continue with their sit-in,” she said.

More soon…