Credit:  Wikipedia / Former Sudan President Omar Hassan al-Bashir  ruled the Northeast African country from October 16, 1993 – April 11, 2019

By Gary Raynaldo    DIPLOMATIC TIMES

UNITED NATIONS    NEW  YORK   –  Sudan President Omar Hassan  al-Bashir, who ruled the Northeast African nation 30 years with an iron grip, was forced from power in a military-led coup last Thursday.  Al-Bashir was then taken into custody, his government dissolved, and the Constitution suspended.  United Nations Secretary General António Guterres stated  that the “democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people” need to be realized through “an appropriate and inclusive transition process”,  following the overthrow and arrest of al-Bashir by order of the country’s new military governing council. In a statement issued in New York by his Spokesperson, the Secretary-General said he would continue to follow development “very closely” and reiterated his call for calm and “utmost restraint by all”.

#Sudan: UN experts call on authorities to respond to the people's legitimate grievances after formation of military council. They condemn reports of excessive use of force against peaceful protesters.

ℹ️ https://t.co/j9VTCviro9 pic.twitter.com/TL8A46WQPl

— UN Special Procedures (@UN_SPExperts) April 11, 2019

Credit: Photo by Gary Raynaldo  /  Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General, briefs journalists on the situation in Sudan at UN headquarters in New York  Apr. 11, 2019. 

“He recalls his previous encouragement and expectation that the democratic aspiration of the Sudanese people will be realized through an appropriate and inclusive transition process. The Secretary-General reaffirms that the United Nations stands ready to support the Sudanese people as they chart a way forward.”

-Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General

Sudan military committed to ‘ensuring stability’ and ‘peaceful transition’ says senior diplomat, as UN rights chief appeals for protesters’ rights to be upheld.

Photo: by Gary Raynaldo /   Sudanese woman wearing the colors of her flag’s homeland Sudan at protest in Dag Hammarskjold Plaza near the United Nations Headquarters in NY City  March 14, 2019.  Mass protests had been mounting in Sudanese communities in New York and in others in America and in Europe, as well as inside Sudan since last December 2018 against the rule of al-Bashir. Sudanese women were at the forefront of demonstrations calling for the end of the al-Bashir dictatorship. 

VIDEO by Gary Raynaldo /  Anti- Sudan President al-Bashir Protest in Dag Hammarskjold Plaza near United Nations Headquarters in NY City  March 14, 2019 was part of mass opposition to his regime that culminated in his ouster after 30 years in power on April 11, 2019

Sudan’s military has an “overarching duty” to refrain from using violence against protesters and ensure that their human rights are protected amid concerns of a further escalation, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said on Friday.  Her comments were in concern of  a declaration from the defence minister, that a military council would govern Sudan for up to two years.

Source:  BBC.com / AFP/HO/SUDAN TV /     Lt-Gen Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan

The leader of Sudan’s interim military council has vowed to “uproot the regime” two days after a military coup, the BBC reports.  “Speaking on TV, Lt-Gen Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan announced the restructuring of state institutions, the end of a night curfew and the release of political prisoners.”

Meanwhile,  many Sudanese remain skeptical that the new military coalition will protect the democratic aspirations of people.  There is growing sentiment in post-al-Bashir Sudan  that the military coalition that overthrew the autocratic leader is not part of the original grass-root protest movement. Many are disappointed that a civilian leader did not replace al-Bashir instead of military leader.