body-container-line-1

Sudan’s Bashir transferred to Khartoum prison

By RFI
Sudan StringerReuters
APR 17, 2019 LISTEN
Stringer/Reuters

Sudan's ousted President, Omar al-Bashir, has been moved to a prison in Khartoum, as hundreds of people staged a sit-in outside the army headquarters, calling for a quick handover of power to a civilian leadership.

The military last Thursday ousted Bashir following months of street protests against his 30-year rule. Right afterwards, he was under house arrest at the presidential residence in the army headquarters' compound in Khartoum.

Organisers of the street protests had demanded the military move al-Bashir to an official prison. Officials confirmed on Wednesday that he was moved to Kopar Prison on Tuesday.

The military said it would not extradite him to the International Criminal Court for trial on war crimes and genocide charges in the Darfur region. Instead, he would be put on trial in Sudan.

Protesters worried about the military
Hundreds of people joined a march by doctors and health workers moving towards a sit-in. The Sudanese Professionals Association, which is behind the protests, called on the military council to hand over power to a transitional civilian government that would rule for four years. The group fears that the army, dominated by Bashir appointees, will hold on to power.

The military council it says would rule for no more than two years while elections are organised.

body-container-line