Omar al-Bashir, the dictatorial President of Sudan, has been removed from office and arrested after three decades in power.

In a televised statement, defence minister Awad Ibn Ouf announced a two year transition period would take place, overseen by the military, followed by elections in 2021.

A state of emergency has also been declared, which is set to last three months.

Protests against al-Bashir have been going on since December in response to the rising cost of living and called on urgent economic reforms, as well as the President’s resignation.

However, protesters have called for a civilian, rather than military, council to run the country in the transition, and have defied an overnight curfew imposed by the army. The main protest group, the Sudanese Professionals Association, have raised concerns that a coup would again bring about the same “faces and institutions that our great people revolted against”.

Earlier today (Thursday 11th April), military vehicles entered a compound where the defence ministry, army headquarters and the President’s residence are based. Al-Bashir’s whereabouts are currently unknown.

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