Somalia Embassy issues advisory for citizens in Sudan after coup

KHARTOUM, Sudan - Somalia's Embassy in Khartoum issued an advisory on Thursday, alerting citizens to exercise caution after president Omar al-Bashir forced out in a bloodless coup, Garowe Online reports.

In a statement, seen by Garowe Online, the Embassy called on Somalis to take precautions, and avoid gatherings or any kind of protests in Sudan amid growing tension between protesters and the army.

"In regards to the situation in Sudan, the Somalia mission calls on Somali nationals to take extra precaution and avoid public gatherings," read the statement in part.

In case of emergency, the Somalis are advised to contact the country's Embassy in Khartoum for help.

Somalia has a significant number of citizens in Sudan, mostly students studying in local universities while many others are normally living there.

The warning comes as thousands of protesters have vowed to stay on the streets of the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, in defiance of a curfew imposed by the country's new military council.

Long-time Sudanese President General Omar Hassan Al-Bashir, who has been in power since 1989 was overthrown and arrested on Thursday, April 11 after months of street protests across the country.

The demonstrators say the military council is part of the same regime. The fresh stand-off has raised fears of a violent confrontation between protesters and the army.

Bashir's government, both cabinet, and parliament have been dissolved, and a military council has assumed control for two years to oversee a transition of power, Sudanese Defense Minister Awad Mohamed said in a televised statement Thursday.

Mohamed added that Sudan's constitution was being suspended, border crossings were being shut until further notice and airspace closed for 24 hours. 

Meanwhile, the Protesters were out in force on Thursday evening in the streets of Khartoum, near the nation's army headquarters, demanding the military hand the country over to its people.

GAROWE ONLINE