Three Major Figures from Sudan's Transitional Military Council Have Stepped Down
This is a victory for the people of Sudan who want the military to hand over power to civilians.
According to the BBC, three major lieutenants from the ruling Transitional Military Council have stepped down. Lieutenants Omar Zain al-Abideen, Jalal al-Deen al-Sheikh and Al-Tayeb Babakr Ali Fadeel, tendered their resignations after talks were held between the Transitional Military Council and protest leaders. The three figures are staunch Islamists whose loyalty is with the recently ousted President Omar al-Bashir.
Spokesperson for the military, Lieutenant-General Shamseddine Kabbashi, said earlier that a committee had been established between the military and the protest leaders in an effort to better understand and smooth over their differences.
One of the demands of the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA), the group primarily behind the protests, were met after the resignation of the three military figures who were involved in the deadly crackdown that led to dozens of protesters being killed.
However, Dr Sara Abdelgalil who is a member of the SPA said that they were planning a massive march that they hoped would comprise of approximately 1 million civilians. Abdelgalil said, "What we are hoping to do today is to continue our peaceful resistance...What we are hoping to do today is to continue our peaceful resistance."
Thousands of Sudanese civilians have been arriving in the capital city of Khartoum as they prepare to increase the pressure on the military so as to bring about democratic reform.
It is reported that al-Bashir is still being held in solitary confinement at the notorious Kobar prison in the capital city. Aside from the International Criminal Court having charged al-Bashir with war crimes and for his involvement in the Darfur genocide, he is now being investigated for money laundering after suitcases of money were found in his home.