Is Sudan’s army guarding Bashir at a farm in Al-Aylafun?

Mohammed Mohammadi

On Thursday, April 11, Sudanese Defense Minister Awad Ibn Ouf released a statement announcing the removal of President Omar al-Bashir from office and his detention at a “safe place”, without providing more details.

Before Ibn Ouf gave the first military statement, he headed a meeting at the headquarters of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) with senior army and intelligence chiefs, where they all tried to persuade Bashir to step down. However, the president – who has become isolated – withdrew from the meeting and rejected the proposals of the army generals, according to Sudanese press reports.

Bashir, who has been indifferent to the ongoing protests since last December, left the meeting with the generals, heading for the presidential palace, but under tight guard, according to Othman Bounin, head of the opposition Beja Congress Party.

The road to Al-Aylafun

According to a Sky News Arabia report, military sources revealed that the Sudanese president had decided to go to the city of Al-Aylafun, east of the capital Khartoum, a few hours before he was removed from office. Bashir owns a farm there, so his own guards suggested it, as well as a large group of businessmen close to the president and others who have strong ties with them in the city. However, the army followed the convoy and managed to arrest the president on the outskirts of the city.

The report pointed out that a group from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), under the presidency of the republic led by General Mohammed Hamdan Daglo, had taken over the task of prosecuting and arresting Bashir, as well as the most prominent symbols of the Bashir regime and his party.

Al-Sudani journalist Lina Yaqub said that the army has arrested Bashir’s old guard and appointed a new one.

Bashir’s fate

While the Sudanese defense minister did not speak about Bashir’s fate during his speech, the head of the Beja Congress Party said it was too early to say, especially since the old regime had committed many crimes against the people.

Meanwhile, the leader of the opposition National Umma Party, Sadiq al-Mahdi, said that Ibn Ouf’s statement regarding the arrest and custody of Bashir at a safe place is insufficient and that Bashir’s fate should be announced. He described the words “arrest” and “custody” mentioned in the army’s first statement as mere measures to quell the anger on the street.