The Sudanese military on Friday swiftly replaced the country's transitional leader linked to genocide after street rallies against him, giving the country its third different leader in three days. The military also said it wouldn't hand over ousted President Omar al-Bashir to the International Criminal Court—where he faces charges of crimes against humanity. Thousands celebrated in the streets after Defense Minister Gen. Awad ibn Ouf, who was named de facto leader after overthrowing al-Bashir on Thursday, announced he was stepping down as transitional leader. He named a reputable army general as his successor, the AP reports. Ibn Ouf said he would be replaced by Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, general inspector of the armed forces, as head of the transitional council, which will rule for two years until elections.
"I am confident he will steer the ship to safe shores," he said of Burhan, who was one of the generals who reached out to protesters at the week-long encampment near the military headquarters, meeting with them and listening to their views. The protesters rejected ibn Ouf's leadership because he was head of military intelligence during the brutal campaign to suppress a Darfur insurgency in the 2000s. The US has imposed sanctions on him since 2007, saying he armed and directed pro-government militias known as the Janjaweed, accused of widespread atrocities against civilians and rapes during the conflict. Earlier Friday, another top general said the 75-year-old al-Bashir would not be extradited to the International Criminal Court, based in The Hague, Netherlands, but would instead by tried in Sudan on as-yet unspecified charges.
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