Trials of 1989 coup Sudanese leaders to begin

Attorney General Tajelsir El Hibir handed over the files about the 1989 coup to the judiciary in Khartoum today. It contains 40 names of leaders of the ousted Omar Al Bashir regime.

The judiciary has indicated it will provide courtrooms and judges to conduct the trials. It stressed that the courts will observe coronavirus precautions.

Ousted President Omar Al Bashir, who ruled the country for 30 years and was deposed by a military coup on April 11, 2019, was convicted on charges of corruption and currency irregularities in December 2019. He was sentenced to two years in a ‘correctional facility’ designed for older prisoners.

Al Bashir has also been charged with incitement and involvement in the killing of demonstrators during the protests that led to his removal from power. In December he was questioned about his role in the 1989 coup that brought him to power.

The Attorney General said earlier today that the Investigation Committee into the violent break-up of the Khartoum sit-in on June 3, 2019, has so far questioned more than 1,000 witnesses. The Public Prosecution cannot interfere with or influence the committee’s work.

He appealed to the international community to cooperate with Sudan in extraditing indictees who now live abroad.

The National Judicial Service Commission reinstated 25 judges in the Supreme Court. They had been dismissed arbitrarily during the period of Al Bashir's rule.

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Radio Dabanga’s editorial independence means that we can continue to provide factual updates about political developments to Sudanese and international actors, educate people about how to avoid outbreaks of infectious diseases, and provide a window to the world for those in all corners of Sudan. Support Radio Dabanga for as little as €2.50, the equivalent of a cup of coffee.