Dictator deposed: Sudanese strongman Omar al-Bashir has been forced out of power in a military coup.

Who is Omar al-Bashir? The ousted president ruled Sudan for 30 years after seizing power in a coup in 1989. He is accused of war crimes and genocide for his brutal crackdown in Darfur.

Why now? Bashir was removed after months of anti-regime protests, with the military abandoning him and siding with those seeking his downfall.

What happens next? In a televised statement, the army announced a two-year military council to oversee a transition of power and declared a three-month state of emergency. Activists have demanded the military hand over power to a civilian government as soon as possible.