The man who has become de facto leader of Sudan, after popular protests led to the overthrow of the country's autocratic ruler, has been on the US sanctions list since 2007 for links to atrocities during the country’s Darfur conflict.

In a televised address on Thursday, General Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf declared the military had removed and arrested president Omar al-Bashir and said a military council would rule the country for the next two years.

The defence minister’s appearance made him the face of military rule, and he is likely to become the country’s formal leader.

Mr Ibn Auf announced a state of emergency, a nationwide ceasefire and the suspension of the constitution from a gold-upholstered armchair, and said Sudan’s airspace would be closed for 24 hours and border crossings shut until further notice.

The apparent military coup angered protesters who have spent months demanding the ouster of Mr Bashir and the establishment of a civilian-led democracy.

Military HQ occupied by anti-government protesters in Sudan Show all 20 1 /20 Military HQ occupied by anti-government protesters in Sudan Military HQ occupied by anti-government protesters in Sudan Protesters rally outside the military headquarters in Khartoum to demand that President Omar al-Bashir step down Reuters Military HQ occupied by anti-government protesters in Sudan Alaa Salah leads the protest against President Omar al-Bashir Lana Haroun/Twitter Military HQ occupied by anti-government protesters in Sudan Protesters run from tear gas deployed by security forces as they take part in a demonstration to demand the departure of the Sudanese government EPA Military HQ occupied by anti-government protesters in Sudan Sudanese protesters rally outside the military headquarters in Khartoum on April 8 Sudan Congress Party Military HQ occupied by anti-government protesters in Sudan Sudanese protesters rally outside the military headquarters in Khartoum on April 10 Reuters Military HQ occupied by anti-government protesters in Sudan Alaa Salah, a Sudanese woman propelled to internet fame earlier this week after clips went viral of her leading powerful protest chants against President Omar al-Bashir, addresses protesters outside of the military headquarters in Khartoum AFP/Getty Military HQ occupied by anti-government protesters in Sudan Sudanese protesters march on the military headquarters in Khartoum on April 8 AFP/Getty Military HQ occupied by anti-government protesters in Sudan Demonstrators attend a protest rally demanding Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir to step down outside Defence Ministry in Khartoum, Sudan April 10, 2019. REUTERS/Stringer NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES Reuters Military HQ occupied by anti-government protesters in Sudan Sudanese protesters pray as they rally outside the military headquarters in Khartoum AFP/Getty Military HQ occupied by anti-government protesters in Sudan Sudanese protesters chant slogans as they march in protest against President Omar al-Bashir Reuters Military HQ occupied by anti-government protesters in Sudan Sudanese protesters rally outside the military headquarters in Khartoum on April 8 AFP/Getty Military HQ occupied by anti-government protesters in Sudan Sudanese protesters rally outside the military headquarters in Khartoum on April 8 AFP/Getty Military HQ occupied by anti-government protesters in Sudan Sudanese protesters climb onto a military vehicle beside soldiers during protests in Khartoum AFP/Getty Military HQ occupied by anti-government protesters in Sudan Security forces deploy tear gas to disperse protesters against the Sudanese government Reuters Military HQ occupied by anti-government protesters in Sudan Sudanese protesters rally outside the military headquarters in Khartoum on April 8 AFP/Getty Military HQ occupied by anti-government protesters in Sudan A wounded protester rests during a demonstration in front of the military headquarters in Khartoum AFP/Getty Military HQ occupied by anti-government protesters in Sudan A Sudanese protester shows bullet cartridges as protesters gather in Khartoum AFP/Getty Military HQ occupied by anti-government protesters in Sudan Protesters march on the military headquarters in Khartoum Sudan Congress Party Military HQ occupied by anti-government protesters in Sudan Sudanese protesters march on the defence ministry in Khartoum to demand that President Omar al-Bashir step down Reuters Military HQ occupied by anti-government protesters in Sudan A Sudanese protester picks up waste during a demonstration in front of the military headquarters in Khartoum AFP/Getty

Mr Ibn Auf, who is in his mid-60s, rose up the ranks to become chief of Sudan’s military intelligence and was made defence minister in 2015. He has been a key insider in the leadership of Mr Bashir’s 30-year-rule and was named as vice president in February.

His assets have been blocked by the US Treasury since 2007 for supporting and managing militias accused of carrying out genocide in the western region of Darfur.

He was indicted by the International Criminal Court on charges of genocide over the conflict, in which 200,000 people were killed.

The conflict began in 2003 when ethnic Africans rebelled, accusing the Arab-dominated government of discrimination.

The government in Khartoum was accused of retaliating by arming local nomadic Arab tribes in militias known as the Janjaweed and unleashing them on civilian populations.

The militias became notorious for massacres and rapes. Government officials denied the charges.

Shots heard amid fresh anti-gov protests in Sudan

In 2007, the US Treasury Department blocked Mr Ibn Auf’s assets along with two other Sudanese officials for their role in “fomenting violence and human rights abuses in Darfur”.

It accused them of acting as “liaisons” between the government and the Janjaweed. It said Mr Ibn Auf “provided the Janjaweed with logistical support and directed attacks”.

At the time, treasury secretary Henry M Paulson, Jr said: “Even in the face of sanctions, these individuals have continued to play direct roles in the terrible atrocities of Darfur.”

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George Clooney and John Prendergast, co-founders of The Sentry, an investigative initiative created to uncover the financial networks behind conflicts in Africa, singled out Mr Ibn Auf for his role in Darfur and said Mr Bashir’s ouster is not enough.

“Removing the leader of a violent, corrupt system without dismantling that system is inadequate. The next steps are crucial,” the two said in a statement on Thursday. They urged the international community to help Sudan to have a new president who “reflects the will of people”.