KHARTOUM 

Millions of people in Sudan took to the streets Friday to celebrate after the country’s defense minister announced he was stepping down as head of the country’s transitional military council.

Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf announced his resignation from the council earlier in the day and the appointment of Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah Burhan as his successor.

❮❯

Sudanese celebrate resignation of military council chief

KHARTOUM, SUDAN - APRIL 13: People gather to celebrate outside army headquarters after country's Defense Minister Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf announced he was stepping down as head of the country’s transitional military council in Khartoum, Sudan on April 13, 2019. ( Stringer - Anadolu Agency )

The Forces of the Freedom and Change Declaration, an alliance that has helped organize the demonstrations, called on protesters to remain in Khartoum’s main square for now.

"We witnessed the resignation of Ibn Auf and we consider this a great victory of the will of our people. But we called on the protesters to stay in the square, especially in front of the military headquarters," it said in statement.