Mr. al-Bashir, 75, is accused of war crimes and is wanted by the International Criminal Court in connection with genocide in Darfur, where hundreds of thousands were killed. He was taken into custody, the government was dissolved and the Constitution suspended, the defense minister said.

Some of the protesters called for caution while awaiting a statement from the military.

“The uprising continues,” a spokeswoman said, adding that they would continue “until there is a complete step down of the whole regime.”

Go deeper: Mr. al-Bashir liked to play up his humble origins to project a folksy image that contrasted with his image in the West, where he was often seen as a heartless warmonger.