A Sudanese military court sentenced a former chief of staff to nine years in prison and five senior officers to five years each after they were convicted of orchestrating a coup attempt. The officers defense lawyer, said that Monday’s verdicts still need to be confirmed by the coupmaker Abdel-Fattah Burhan.
A Sudanese military court on Monday sentenced a former chief of staff to nine years in prison and five senior officers to five years each after they were convicted of orchestrating a coup attempt in 2019.
The case dates back to July 2019, three months after the military overthrew Sudan’s longtime autocrat, President Omar al-Bashir.
The officer sentenced Monday by the court in the capital of Khartoum was Gen. Hashem Abdel-Muttalib Babakr. Just three years ago, he was named chief of staff by the transitional military council that seized power. Two military officials told that the military court also downgraded Babakar to lieutenant general, his previous rank.
The five other officers convicted of the coup attempt — three major generals, a brigadier and a lieutenant colonel — were working for the military and the national intelligence and security services.
Hashem Abu Baker, the officers defense lawyer, said that Monday’s verdicts still need to be confirmed by the coupmaker Abdel-Fattah Burhan, head of the coup military.
It remains to be seen whether al-Burhan will actually allow his former colleagues to go to prison.
Image: Library of Congress
