Sudan’s Bashir stands trial for 1989 coup

Ousted Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir appeared in court on Tuesday in connection with the 1989 military coup that brought him to power.

More than 20 former officials are standing trial alongside al-Bashir.

Tuesday’s trial session was procedural with the defendants appearing in cages amid tight security conditions.

After hearing an appeal from the defense team, the judge adjourned the trial to Aug. 11.

“We decided to postpone the trial session to Aug. 11 as we need a bigger hall in order to guarantee social distancing, put different arrangements in place and ensure that the entire defendants have lawyers and other rights,” the judge said.

In May of last year, Sudanese prosecution opened an investigation into charges against al-Bashir of undermining the country’s constitutional order over the coup.

On June 30, 1989, al-Bashir staged a military coup against the government of Prime Minister Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi, and ruled the country under what he named the "national salvation revolution".

The former president is currently spending two years in prison after being found guilty of corruption in December.

He ruled Sudan for three decades, and was removed from power by the military last year following mass protests.

*Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara