- Title: The rise and fall of Sudan's ousted president Omar Hassan al-Bashir
- Date: 15th August 2019
- Summary: The U.S. and U.N. have been trying to persuade the Sudanese government to let a U.N. peacekeeping force deploy in Darfur but Khartoum has refused, saying that would amount to a return to colonialism. In a speech in parliament, al-Bashir insists that only African Union forces shall be in charge in the war-torn Darfur region, despite mounting international pressure and threats of sanction if Khartoum continues to resist deployment of U.N. troops in the region. In the face of Khartoum's refusal, advocates of a U.N. mission proposes a compromise deal that would protect the people of Darfur and win Sudanese government approval. KHARTOUM, SUDAN (FILE - APRIL 2, 2007) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) Al-BASHIR AND OTHER DELEGATES STANDING INSIDE PARLIAMENT AS NATIONAL ANTHEM IS PLAYED Al-BASHIR WAVING AND SITTING DOWN
- Embargoed: 29th August 2019 22:00
- Keywords: Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir Sudan Syria Bashar al-Assad Sadeq al-Mahdi
- Location: SEE SCRIPT BODY FOR LOCATIONS
- City: SEE SCRIPT BODY FOR LOCATIONS
- Country: Sudan
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA004ASCJ493
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: CONTAINS NUDITY
Sudan's 75-year-old president Omar al-Bashir was overthrown in a coup by the armed forces on April 11, 2019 after weeks of protests against his 30-year autocratic style rule.
Al-Bashir was born in 1944 in the Nile Valley north of Khartoum. The son of a small farmer, he graduated from Sudan's military academy in 1966 and was a career army officer who rose to the rank of general.
Al-Bashir came to power in June 1989 after toppling democratically elected prime minister Sdiq al-Mahdi in a military coup amid a long-running a civil war between Sudan's north and south. Al-Bashir was then elected as president in a poll his critics said were neither fair nor free.
In October 1993, he dissolved the military junta which brought him to power and appointed himself civilian president in a move designed to establish Islamic government in Africa's largest country as stable and civilian-based.
In 2015, Al-Bashir's quarter-century power was extended with a landslide victory for himself and his rulling party, winning 94 percent of the vote in an election boycotted by all opposition parties.
Sudan had suffered prolonged periods of isolation since 1993, when the United States added al-Bashir's government to its list of terrorism sponsors for harboring Islamist militants. Washington followed up with sanctions four years later.
The long civil war with southern separatists ended in 2005 and South Sudan became an independent country in 2011.
Al-Bashi rhas been detained in a prison in Khartoum North, across the Blue Nile from the capital's centre, since he was ousted in April.
He was later charged with incitement and involvement in the killing of protesters, as well as money laundering and financing terrorism.
Al-Bashir has also been indicted by the International Criminal Court in The Hague and is facing an arrest warrant over allegations of genocide in Sudan's Darfur region during an insurgency that began in 2003 and led to death of an estimated 300,000 people.
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