Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Omar al-Bashir was an autocratic leader of Sudan for just under 30 years. He came to power in a military coup and ruled Sudan with an iron fist and a strict, conservative, Islamic legal system. His ousting came after months of protests against the Government. Protesters accused the Government of mismanaging the economy, as the Minister of State indicated, and some peaceful protests have been attacked by security services. Last week, the military in Sudan stated that it had arrested Omar al-Bashir and would oversee a two-year transitional period. However, as events continue to unfold, I do not think that position will hold. People do not want to be controlled by a military council made up of army personnel who ruled and supported Omar al-Bashir over the years. Protesters remain outside the army and military headquarters in Khartoum demanding a civilian Administration and that the military immediately and unconditionally hand over power to a civilian Government. Will the Minister of State call on the protesters to ensure that protests remain peaceful and on the army to ensure that it does not forcibly remove or attack protest groups?

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