Omar al-Bashir is no longer Sudan’s president. His 30-year reign ended this week, in a similar vein to the way it began, when armed forces overthrew and arrested him on 11 April, following months of protests which initially began over rising food prices but grew into broader discontent. Bashir took power in June 1989 following a military coup and has been replaced by first vice president and defense minister, General Awad Ibn Auf.
In an attempt to retain control, the deposed president announced a year-long state of emergency in February and dissolved federal and provincial governments (MEES, 1 March). Mr Bashir led a tumultuous reign as the head of state, leading Sudan through numerous conflicts and was wanted by an international tribunal for war crimes committed in Darfur. Mr Auf is no saint himself and was sanctioned by the US government in 2007 for his own role in the atrocities committed in Darfur. This is hardly the change that the Sudanese protesters have been clamoring for. (CONTINUED - 239 WORDS)