Five years ago, amid months of protests against the regime of Omar al-Bashir, the Sudanese head of state was toppled by the military on April 11th and subsequently arrested. Despite being subject to two arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court (ICC), he has never been extradited and has remained in custody in Khartoum. Today, as Sudan grapples with a year-long war, the man who ruled the country for thirty years oscillates between hospital stays and imprisonment.
According to a security source, Omar al-Bashir is believed to still be in Khartoum, specifically at the al-Alya military hospital in Omdurman. This area has been under the control of the Sudanese armed forces led by General al-Burham since the outset of the conflict.
Deposed and arrested by the military five years ago on April 11th, Omar al-Bashir was incarcerated shortly afterward at Kober Prison. Situated in Khartoum North, Kober is one of Sudan’s largest and oldest prisons. Initially charged with “murdering protesters” and later with corruption, he was sentenced to two years in prison for embezzlement while awaiting further trials.
In reality, even while in prison, Omar al-Bashir reportedly spent a significant amount of time in the hospital, according to certain sources.
When war erupted in the capital a year ago, the former dictator was still at Kober, according to the military. However, as the conflict intensified, the prison came under attack, leading to the escape of hundreds of prisoners, including one of Omar al-Bashir’s close associates.
Days later, the military announced in a statement that they had transferred the former head of state. At 80 years old, he is now at the al-Alya military hospital, where he is said to be under secure conditions.