On Sunday, Sudan’s ex-president, Omar al-Bashir, was charged to court with corruption-related offences, as he made his first public appearance since he was overthrown and detained in April.

Al-Bashir looked very much the same as before his removal from office by the military. The former dictator was taken to the prosecutor’s office in Khartoum.

The prosecutor, Alaa al-Din Abdallah, told media that the ex-president was charged with illicit possession of foreign currency and accepting gifts in an unofficial manner. He added that al-Bashir would be given the due chance to respond to the accusations.

Observers say that al-Bashir’s trial will be a test of how serious Sudan’s transitional military council is about trying to eradicate the legacy of the dictator’s autocratic 30-year rule, marked by economic collapse, widespread violence and the secession of South Sudan.

Last month, al-Bashir was charged with incitement and involvement in the killing of protesters. Moreover, prosecutors want him questioned over suspected terrorism financing and money laundering.

Forty one (41) former officials of Bashir’s administration were being investigated for suspected unscrupulous use of their authority for personal gain, Sudan’s chief prosecutor said on Saturday.

After sixteen (16) weeks of street protests against his rule, the military overthrew and detained al-Bashir on April 11, 2019.

But despite his ouster, Sudan is still paralyzed by a political standoff between a transitional military council and a coalition of protesters and opposition parties. The coalition is suspicious of the military junta and hence, are demanding a civilian-led administration during a planned transition to democracy.

There have been talks on a power-sharing deal, but they collapsed. And tensions soared on June 3, when security forces stormed a protest camp in Khartoum, which is strategically maintained as a way to press military rulers to hand over power.

According to the protesters, 128 people died from the incursion at 128, while the health ministry put the number at 61.

On Saturday, military investigators said it found out that some government officers of various ranks were responsible for dispersing the camp without approval.

Justin Nwosu

Justin Nwosu is the founder and publisher of Flavision. His core interest is in writing unbiased news about Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. He’s a strong adherent of investigative journalism, with a bent on exposing corruption, abuse of power and societal ills.