Hours after the military council promised a new civilian government to calm public anger, Defence Minister Awad Ibn Auf announced his resignation as head of the council in a televised speech. Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan Abdelrahman will take over as the new head of the council, Ibn Auf stated. Additionally, Chief of Staff Kamal Abdelmarouf al-Mahi was removed from his position as deputy head of the transitional military council. Ibn Auf emphasized the need for unity within the security system and armed forces to prevent division, and expressed his faith in God as they embark on this path of change. The news of these changes led to joyful celebrations in the streets of Khartoum, with chants of "The second has fallen!" in reference to Bashir, according to witnesses. Rashid Saeed, a spokesperson for the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA), stated that recent events are a positive development and a recognition of the will of the people, bringing them closer to achieving victory. He emphasized their commitment to the demands presented to the army and urged the public to continue protesting until all demands are met. The military council has suggested a transition period of up to two years before elections, with the possibility of a shorter timeline if stability is maintained. The council's political committee leader, Omar Zain al-Abideen, announced plans for dialogue with political groups. The promise of a future civilian government was likely made to reassure demonstrators who had long called for Bashir's removal and are now pushing for swift and meaningful change under military rule. Several thousand protesters defied the night time curfew announced by Ibn Auf's military council by remaining in front of the defence ministry compound and other parts of the capital. The SPA criticized the military council's ability to bring about change and reiterated their demand for immediate power transition to a civilian government. Bashir, who took power in a 1989 military coup, faced weeks of protests due to economic hardships and repression during his 30-year rule. Worshipers gathered around the Defence Ministry for Friday prayers, responding to the SPA's call to challenge the military council. The crowd grew throughout the day, with an estimated hundreds of thousands of protesters in the area guarded by soldiers. A Sudanese police spokesman reported that at least 16 people were killed and 20 injured by stray bullets during protests and sit-ins on Thursday and Friday. Government buildings and private property were also targeted. The spokesman, Hashem Ali, called on citizens to help maintain safety and public order. One protester, 24-year-old doctor Abdelhamid Ahmed, expressed opposition to the military council currently in power because many members were part of former leader Bashir's regime. Ibn Auf, a former vice president and defense minister, is one of several Sudanese commanders sanctioned by the US for their alleged involvement in atrocities during the Darfur conflict that started in 2003. The announcement of Bashir's removal on Thursday and the establishment of a military council by Ibn Auf included a state of emergency, a nationwide ceasefire, suspension of the constitution, and a night curfew from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. These measures were criticized by rights groups for being too forceful. Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman, the third highest-ranking general in the Sudanese armed forces, led the ground forces and played a role in the Saudi-led Yemen war. Sudan's deputy UN ambassador, Yasir Abdalla Abdelsalam Ahmed, emphasized the need for a democratic process in the country, calling for support from the international community for a peaceful transition. He also stressed the importance of an inclusive political process, stating that no party, including armed groups, should be excluded. The 15-member council met in private on Friday to receive updates on the situation in Sudan. The Sudanese representative mentioned that the suspension of the constitution could be removed and the transitional period shortened based on progress and agreements between parties. The United States and Britain, among other world powers, expressed their support for a peaceful and democratic transition within a shorter timeframe than two years. China stated its commitment to collaborating with Sudan regardless of the political circumstances. Zain al-Abideen assured that the military council would not intervene in civilian governance. He stated that the transitional military council would have control over the defence and interior ministries. Burhan, the council's new leader, previously served as the inspector general of the Sudanese armed forces and was the third highest-ranking general. He is not well-known in public life but has experience leading Sudan's ground forces, which included overseeing troops in the Yemen war led by Saudi Arabia. Burhan also has strong connections to senior Gulf military officials due to his role in coordinating Sudan's military participation in the conflict. Zain al-Abideen stated that the military council does not have the answers to Sudan's crisis and believes that solutions will come from the protesters. He emphasized that they are not seeking power and will not force anything on the people, but rather aim to facilitate a peaceful dialogue. The council had planned to meet with political groups on Friday to prepare for dialogue, but this meeting was postponed. The council explained that it did not ask Bashir's National Congress Party to participate in the dialogue because they believe the party is responsible for the recent events. They also warned protestors that the army would not tolerate any further unrest. Ibn Auf stated that Bashir was currently being held in a secure location. Sources in Sudan informed Reuters that he was being heavily guarded at the presidential residence. The council confirmed on Friday that they would not hand over Bashir to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, where he has been indicted. Bashir is wanted for his alleged involvement in genocide in Sudan's Darfur region, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 300,000 people during an uprising that started in 2003. Bashir has denied these accusations.