Sudan crisis: Three top generals agree to quit as protests continue

Sudanese demonstrators gather in front of military headquarters during a demonstration after The Sudanese Professionals Association's (SPA) call, demanding a civilian transition government, in Khartoum, Sudan on 22 April 2019.Image copyright
Anadolu Agency

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Protesters are keeping up their campaign in Sudan

Three of the most controversial figures of Sudan’s ruling Transitional Military Council have offered their resignations – one of the key demands of the protest movement.

The three generals were seen as staunch Islamists and allies of deposed President Omar al-Bashir.

It follows talks between the military council and protest leaders.

A “million-strong march for civilian rule” has been called later to maintain the pressure for democratic reform.

Thousands of protesters have arrived in the capital, Khartoum, by train from various cities to take part in the event.

“What we are hoping to do today is to continue our peaceful resistance,” said Dr Sara Abdelgalil, of the Sudanese Professionals Association, the main group behind the protests.

She told the BBC: “Regime members and the NCP [the ousted president’s party] are trying to show themselves as being legitimate to continue ruling the transitional period.”

Protest leaders have been calling on the Transitional Military Council to hand over to a civilian administration.

At a press conference on Wednesday, military spokesman Lt-Gen Shamseddine Kabbashi said the two sides had reached agreement on most of the demands, and that they decided to set up a joint committee to bridge their differences.

The three generals stepping down are Omar Zain al-Abideen, Jalal al-Deen al-Sheikh and Al-Tayeb Babakr Ali Fadeel.

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Media captionSudan protests: The women driving change
source: bbc.com