Sudan foils coup, arrests top military officers

Sudanese authorities have reportedly foiled a coup attempt by a group of soldiers in the country.

According to Mohamed Al Faki Suleiman, a member of the country’s ruling council, the situation has been brought under control.

Many troops, including high-ranking officers, have reportedly been arrested in connection to the failed coup.

Reuters quoted Suleiman as saying the interrogation of suspects involved in the attempted coup, which took place on Monday, was due to begin and that the military would issue a statement soon.

A military official reportedly said an unspecified number of troops from the armoured corps were behind the attempt and that they had tried to take over several government institutions but were stopped in their tracks.

The suspects were said to have tried to take control of state radio station in Omdurman, across the River Nile from the capital, Khartoum.

The military was said to have used tanks to close a bridge connecting Khartoum with Omdurman early on Tuesday morning.

Sudan is currently ruled by a transitional government made up of both civilian and military representatives that was installed after Omar al-Bashir was ousted in April 2019.

Al-Bashir was overthrown after months of mass protests calling for his resignation.

The transitional government is tasked with overseeing a return to full civilian rule.

In 2020, the Sudan government had said it will hand over al-Bashir to the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague to face war-crime charges.

The ousted leader who held sway in the country for three decades is reportedly the first person that will be tried for genocide at the ICC.

He is facing seven counts bordering on crimes against humanity. Al-Bashir allegedly committed the crimes between 2003 and 2008.

Earlier in the month, Guinea President Alpha Conde was ousted from office by military forces led by Mamady Doumbouya.