Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir was forced to step down by the military after three decades of autocratic power.
In a communique this afternoon, Vice President and Defence Minister Awad Mohamed Ahmed Ibn Auf said President Omar al-Bashir was deposed by the army on Thursday.
He said the country had been suffering from corruption and poor management.
Ibn Auf, an ex-military intelligence chief, said Bashir had been arrested and that the military would be running the country for a two-year transitional period, or until elections.
The defense minister said arrangements were underway to form a higher military council to run the country and that the army’s role will be critical during the transitional government.
The defense minister said he uprooted the regime and arrested Omar al-Bashir. Mr Bashir would be kept in a safe place, according to Ibn Auf.
The new military authorities said they dissolved parliament, central government, state governments and suspended the transitional constitution.
Ibn Auf declared a state of emergency for three months.
The country's defense minister ordered the release of all political prisoners and urged armed opposition groups to lay down their weapons to be part of the country’s development.
He declared a nationwide ceasefire and pledged to create a conducive environment for the peaceful transfer of power after the transitional government. He also pledged that human rights will be observed throughout the transitional period.
Ibn Auf said border crossings were being closed until further notice and airspace was being closed for 24 hours.
The military’s latest movements come as anti-government protests in Sudan reached a new stage this week, with tens of thousands of people demonstrating in front of military headquarters to demand the departure of President Bashir.
It is not yet known what will happen to Bashir after his arrest.
Bashir, a former army general, seized power in 1989 after a coup. He was indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague on charges of genocide in Sudan's Darfur region.
Sudan has been rocked by anti-government protests that erupted on 19 December after a government decision to raise prices of bread and have since morphed into nationwide demonstrations calling for Bashir's ousting.