Ousted Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir was questioned by a special committee on the execution of 29 senior army officers in 1990, however, he is refusing to cooperate, according to sources.
They told Asharq Al-Awsat that the committee is investigating the case known as “execution of Ramadan officers”, who were killed on the eve of the Eid al-Fitr holiday in 1990.
In May, the army revealed the location of a mass grave, in which 29 officers, who were killed by the Bashir regime, were secretly buried, after they carried out a coup against him.
A committee formed by the transitional government revealed the location of the grave in the Karary area, north of Omdurman. Leaked information showed that the trial of the officers lasted only an hour, after which they were all shot dead and buried in hidden graves.
Attorney General Tag el-Sir el-Hibir announced that 35 witnesses had been questioned in the case, and that the investigation was able to identify the perpetrators and people behind the crime, but he did not reveal any name.
Bashir was sentenced in December 2019 to two years in prison for “unlawful wealth and illicit dealing in foreign exchange.” He also awaits trial for the case of coup plotters, after the public prosecution completed its investigation and handed it over to the judiciary.
During his questioning, Bashir refused to provide any information to the public prosecution in the case of undermining the country’s constitutional order, against him and dozens of Islamist leaders.
The judiciary announced that it would begin trials of the ousted president and dozens of National Islamic Front leaders accused of organizing the coup against the democratic system in 1989. The courts will observe the health requirements during the coronavirus pandemic.
Former regime figures have been detained in Kober Prison in Khartoum. They include Bashir, former First Vice President Ali Osman Mohamed Taha, former Vice President Bakri Hassan Saleh, former head of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) Ahmed Haroun and Deputy Secretary-General of the Popular Congress Party Ali Al Haj Mohammed.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok announced Sunday the dismissal of the country’s police chief Adel Mohamed Bashaer and his deputy Othman Mohamed Younes following protests calling for measures against officials linked to Bashir.
The police force director-general was replaced by Ezz Eldin Sheikh Ali.
Asharq Al-Awsat had previously reported that the transitional government had agreed to restructuring the police and security and intelligence services. They also approved transforming the police into a civilian agency.
A large number of Sudanese protesters accuse the government of not achieving the goals of the December revolution as quickly as needed, which prompted them to organize a number of marches on June 30. They called on the prime minister to take urgent measures that include dismissing the police chief, reshuffling the cabinet, fighting corruption and speeding up Islamists trials.
Hamdok vowed to implement the demands of the protesters within 14 days, starting with the dismissal of the police general director. He is expected to appoint civilian governors and rename a number of his government ministers.
