Hours after the military council attempted to calm public anger by promising a new civilian government, 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 now lead the council, according to Ibn Auf. He also announced that Chief of Staff Kamal Abdelmarouf al-Mahi was removed from his position as deputy head of the transitional military council. Ibn Auf emphasized the importance of maintaining the cohesion of the security system and armed forces, and expressed hope for a path of change. The news of these changes led to jubilant 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), stated that recent events are a positive development and a nod to the will of the people. He emphasized the group's commitment to their demands and urged the public to continue protesting until all demands are met. The military council has proposed a 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 attempt to reassure demonstrators who have been calling for significant change following the ouster of former president Bashir. In defiance of 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 Ibn Auf. The SPA criticized the military council, stating that it was unable to bring about change and reiterated their demand for power to be handed over to a transitional civilian government. Bashir, who came to power in a 1989 military coup, had faced weeks of demonstrations due to food costs, unemployment, and repression during his rule. Worshippers gathered for Friday prayers near the Defence Ministry, responding to the SPA's call to challenge the military council. By the afternoon, the crowd had grown to hundreds of thousands, with soldiers guarding the ministry. A Sudanese police spokesman announced on Saturday 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, according to spokesman Hashem Ali. He called on citizens to help maintain safety and public order. Abdelhamid Ahmed, a 24-year-old doctor, expressed opposition to the current military council, citing their ties to former president Bashir's regime. Ibn Auf, a member of the council, previously served as Bashir's vice president and defence minister and was sanctioned by the US for his 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, a nationwide ceasefire, and the suspension of the constitution. Additionally, a night time curfew from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. was imposed, which was criticized as heavy-handed by rights groups. Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman, the third most senior general in the Sudanese armed forces, was the head of Sudan's ground forces and had a role in the Saudi-led Yemen war. Sudan's deputy UN ambassador, Yasir Abdalla Abdelsalam Ahmed, emphasized the importance of an inclusive political process in the country, stating that all parties, including armed groups, should be involved. He also urged the international community to support a peaceful transition, noting that democracy in Sudan would take time. The 15-member council met in private on Friday 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 based on developments and agreements. The US and UK expressed support for a swift democratic transition, while China stated its intention to cooperate with Sudan regardless of the political climate. Zain al-Abideen assured that the military council would not meddle in civilian governance. He mentioned that the transitional military council would have control over the defence and interior ministries. Burhan, the new 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 he did lead Sudan's ground forces and supervised troops in the Yemen war. 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 does not have the answers to Sudan's crisis and believes they 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 planned to meet with political entities on Friday to prepare for dialogue, but this meeting was postponed. The council explained that Bashir's National Congress Party was not invited to participate in the dialogue due to their responsibility for recent events. Protesters were warned that the army would not tolerate any unrest. Ibn Auf stated that Bashir was being held in a secure location, with sources indicating he was under heavy guard at the presidential residence. The council announced that Bashir would not be extradited, despite being indicted by the International Criminal Court for 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.