Hours after making a promise for a new civilian government to calm public anger, Defence Minister Awad Ibn Auf announced his resignation as head of the military council in a televised speech. Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan Abdelrahman will take over as the new head of the council, according to Ibn Auf. Additionally, Chief of Staff Kamal Abdelmarouf al-Mahi has been removed from his position as deputy head of the transitional military council. Ibn Auf stated that the change was necessary to maintain cohesion within the security system and the armed forces. The news of the change led to joyful celebrations in the streets of Khartoum, with people chanting, “The second has fallen!” in reference to Bashir, witnesses reported. Rashid Saeed, a spokesperson for the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA), told Reuters that recent events are a positive development in line with the will of the people, bringing them closer to victory. He emphasized their commitment to the demands they have presented to the army and urged the public to continue protesting until all demands are met. The military council has indicated a potential two-year transition period before elections, with the possibility of a shorter timeline if stability can be maintained. The council has also expressed willingness to engage in dialogue with political groups. The announcement of a future civilian government is seen as an effort to reassure demonstrators who have been calling for faster and more significant change following the ousting of former President Bashir. In a direct challenge to Ibn Auf's military council, thousands of protesters remained outside the defence ministry compound and in other parts of the capital despite a night time curfew imposed by Auf. The SPA criticized the military council's ability to bring about change and reiterated their demand for a transitional civilian government to take power immediately. Bashir, who came to power in a 1989 military coup, faced weeks of protests due to economic hardships and repression during his rule. Worshippers gathered around the Defence Ministry for Friday prayers as urged by the SPA, with the crowd growing larger in the afternoon according to a Reuters witness. 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 in the violence. The spokesman, Hashem Ali, urged citizens to help maintain safety and public order. 24-year-old doctor Abdelhamid Ahmed expressed opposition to the current leadership, citing their ties to former President Bashir's regime. Ibn Auf, who was Bashir's vice president and defence minister, is one of several Sudanese commanders facing sanctions from the US for their alleged involvement in atrocities during the Darfur conflict that started in 2003. Bashir's removal was announced on Thursday along with the formation of a military council by Ibn Auf, who also declared a state of emergency, nationwide ceasefire, suspension of the constitution, and a night time curfew. These measures were criticized as heavy-handed by rights groups. Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman, the third highest-ranking general in the Sudanese armed forces, who is not well-known in public life, was appointed to lead the ground forces. He was responsible for overseeing Sudanese troops involved 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 and called on the international community to support a peaceful transition. He assured that all parties, including armed groups, would be included in the political process. The 15-member council met on Friday in a closed-door session to receive updates on the situation in Sudan. The Sudanese envoy mentioned that the suspension of the constitution could be lifted and the transitional period shortened depending on the progress and agreements made between parties. World powers like the United States and Britain expressed their support for a peaceful and democratic transition in less than two years. China stated its commitment to cooperating with Sudan regardless of the political situation. Zain al-Abideen assured that the military council would not interfere with a civilian government. He mentioned that the transitional military council would have control over the defence and interior ministries. Burhan, who is now leading the council, previously held the position of inspector general in the Sudanese armed forces and was the third highest-ranking general. Despite being relatively unknown in public life, he was in charge of Sudan's ground forces and supervised troops involved in the Yemen war led by Saudi Arabia. Burhan has strong connections with senior military officials in the Gulf region 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 the council is not seeking power and will not force anything upon the people. Their goal is to facilitate peaceful dialogue and create a conducive environment for discussions. A meeting with political entities to prepare for dialogue was scheduled for Friday but was later postponed. The council explained that the National Congress Party of Bashir was not invited to participate in the dialogue due to their responsibility for recent events. Protesters were cautioned that the army would not tolerate any disturbances. Ibn Auf announced that Bashir was currently being held in a secure location. Sudanese sources informed Reuters that he was heavily guarded at the presidential residence. The council declared that they would not hand over Bashir to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, where he faces charges of genocide in Darfur. The conflict in Darfur began in 2003 and resulted in the deaths of approximately 300,000 people. Bashir has denied these accusations.