Hours after promising 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 now lead 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. The news of these changes led to celebrations in the streets of Khartoum, with people chanting, “The second has fallen!” in reference to Bashir, according to witnesses. Ibn Auf emphasized the importance of unity within the security system and the armed forces as the country moves forward. Rashid Saeed, a spokesperson for the main protest group in Sudan, the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA), told Reuters that recent events are a positive development and a nod to the will of the people, bringing them closer to victory. He emphasized their commitment to the demands they presented to the army and urged the public to continue protesting until all demands are met. The military council has suggested a transition period before elections, with the possibility of it being shorter if stability is maintained. The council also plans to engage in dialogue with political entities. The announcement of a future civilian government seems to be an attempt to reassure protesters who have been advocating for change and have continued to demonstrate against military rule. 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, defying a night time curfew imposed by Ibn Auf. The SPA declared that the military council was incapable of instigating change and reiterated their demand for immediate power transition to a civilian government. Bashir, who took power in a 1989 military coup, faced 16 weeks of protests due to issues such as high food costs, unemployment, and repression during his 30-year rule. Worshippers gathered around the Defence Ministry for Friday prayers, responding to the SPA's call to confront the military council. The number of protesters grew throughout the day, with an estimated hundreds of thousands surrounding the ministry under the watch of soldiers. According to a statement from a Sudanese police spokesman on Saturday, 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 attacks. The spokesman, Hashem Ali, urged citizens to help maintain safety and public order. One protester, 24-year-old doctor Abdelhamid Ahmed, stated that while they do not oppose a military council in general, they are against those affiliated with former president Bashir's regime. Among those targeted for sanctions by the US for their alleged involvement in atrocities during the Darfur conflict is Ibn Auf, who previously served as Bashir's vice president and defense minister. Ibn Auf announced Bashir's removal on Thursday along with the creation of a military council, declaring a state of emergency, nationwide ceasefire, suspension of the constitution, and a night time curfew from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. These measures were criticized by rights groups. Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman, a senior general in Sudan's armed forces, was not well-known in public life and had previously overseen Sudanese troops in the Yemen war. Sudan's deputy UN ambassador, Yasir Abdalla Abdelsalam Ahmed, emphasized the need for a democratic process in the country, calling for the international community's support in achieving a peaceful transition. He assured that all parties, including armed groups, would be included in the political process. The 15-member council met later on Friday in a closed-door session to receive updates on the latest events in Sudan. The Sudanese representative mentioned that the suspension of the constitution could be removed at any time and the transitional period could be shortened depending on the situation on the ground and agreements made between parties. Major countries like the United States and Britain expressed their backing for a peaceful and democratic transition in less than two years. China also stated its intention to maintain cooperation with Sudan regardless of the political circumstances. Zain al-Abideen assured that the military council would not disrupt a civilian government. He mentioned that the transitional military council would have control over the defence and interior ministries. Burhan, the leader of the council, 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 as the head of Sudan's ground forces, where he supervised troops involved in the Yemen war led by Saudi Arabia. Additionally, he has strong connections with 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 acknowledged it did not have solutions to Sudan's crisis and believed they would come from the protesters. He emphasized that they were not seeking power and would not impose their will on the people. The council aimed to facilitate a peaceful dialogue and had planned to meet with political entities to prepare for this, but the meeting was postponed. The council explained that they did not invite Bashir's National Congress Party to participate in the dialogue because they believe the party is responsible for the recent events. They also warned protesters that the army would not tolerate any further unrest. Ibn Auf announced that Bashir was being held in a secure location, with sources stating he was at the presidential residence under heavy guard. The council confirmed 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 an estimated 300,000 people, but Bashir denies the accusations.