Hours after the military council attempted to ease 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, Ibn Auf stated. 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 security and unity within the armed forces as they embark on a new path of change. The news of these changes led to joyful celebrations in the streets of Khartoum, with many chanting, "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 nod to the will of the people, bringing them closer to achieving victory. He emphasized the group's commitment to their demands, urging 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 is maintained. The council plans to engage in dialogue with political parties and has announced intentions to establish a civilian government in the future to reassure protestors seeking significant and prompt change. Several thousand protesters defied Ibn Auf's military council by remaining in front of the defence ministry compound and other parts of the capital, despite a night time curfew imposed by Ibn Auf. The SPA criticized the military council, stating that it was incapable of bringing about change, and reiterated its demand for power to be transferred to a transitional civilian government. Bashir, who seized power in a 1989 military coup, faced 16 weeks of protests due to rising food costs, high unemployment, and increasing repression during his decades-long rule. Worshippers gathered around the Defence Ministry for Friday prayers, responding to a call by the SPA to challenge the military council. The number of protesters increased throughout the day, with an estimated hundreds of thousands of people surrounding the ministry, which was 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, according to spokesman Hashem Ali. He urged 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, citing their ties to former President Bashir's regime. Ibn Auf, a member of the council, was previously vice president and defense minister under Bashir and has faced sanctions from Washington for his alleged involvement in atrocities during the Darfur conflict that began in 2003. Ibn Auf announced Bashir's removal on Thursday, along with the establishment of a military council, a state of emergency, a nationwide ceasefire, the suspension of the constitution, and a night time curfew from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. These measures were criticized by rights groups for being heavy-handed. Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman, the third most senior general in the Sudanese armed forces, previously led Sudan's ground forces and oversaw troops in the Yemen war. Sudan's deputy UN ambassador, Yasir Abdalla Abdelsalam Ahmed, emphasized the need for a democratic process in Sudan, stating that all parties, including armed groups, should be included. He urged the international community to support a peaceful transition. The 15-member council met later on Friday in private to receive updates on the current situation in Sudan. The Sudanese envoy mentioned that the suspension of the constitution could be revoked at any time and the transitional period could be shortened based on progress on the ground and agreements made between parties. Major countries like the United States and Britain expressed their support for a peaceful and democratic transition in less than two years. China stated they would maintain cooperation with Sudan regardless of the political circumstances. Zain al-Abideen assured that the military council would not intervene in a civilian government. He stated 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. Despite being relatively unknown to the public, he previously led Sudan's ground forces and supervised troops in the Yemen war led by Saudi Arabia. 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 is not seeking power and believes that solutions to Sudan's crisis will come from the protesters. He emphasized that they do not want to impose anything on the people and aim to facilitate a peaceful dialogue. The council planned to meet with political entities to prepare for dialogue, but the meeting was postponed. The council explained that they did not include Bashir's National Congress Party in the dialogue because they believe the party is responsible for the events that occurred. They also cautioned protesters that the army would not tolerate any disturbances. Ibn Auf stated that Bashir was being held in a secure location, with sources revealing he was at the presidential residence under heavy security. The council announced that they would not hand over Bashir to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, where he faces charges of genocide in Darfur stemming from a conflict that began in 2003 and resulted in the deaths of an estimated 300,000 people. Bashir has consistently denied these accusations.