Sadiq al-Mahdi, a former prime minister and head of the opposition National Umma Party that has backed the protests, also told reporters that the army's ouster of Mr Bashir was "not a military coup". Five days later, the army ousted him but then took power into its own hands through a 10-member transitional military council. "This should be done in coordination with the transitional military council," he added. Mr Bashir swept to power in an Islamist-backed coup in 1989 that toppled Mahdi's elected government. Protest leaders have held several rounds of so far inconclusive talks with the military council since Mr Bashir was ousted.

Source: Daily Nation April 27, 2019 16:41 UTC