Sudan’s President, Omar al-Bashir, has been ousted and arrested after 30 years in power, the defence minister, has confirmed.

Speaking on state TV, Awad Ibn Ouf, said the army will oversee a two-year transitional period followed by elections.

He also said a three-month state of emergency was being put in place, the BBC reports.

In a statement, Ibn Ouf said: “I announce as minister of defence the toppling of the regime and detaining its chief in a secure place”.

For several months, there have been protests against Bashir, who has been in power in 1989 following a military coup.

The country’s constitution has been suspended, border crossings and airspace closed, he added.

Bashir had been issued an international arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing him of organising war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sudan’s western Darfur region.

Protests against Mr Bashir, who has governed Sudan since 1989, have been underway for several months.

Meanwhile, the main group that has been organising the demonstrations called for them to continue on Thursday, despite the military intervention.

Mr Ibn Ouf said the country had been suffering from “poor management, corruption, and an absence of justice” and he apologised “for the killing and violence that took place”.

WuzupNaija gathered that a crowd Sudanese jubilated outside the army headquarters in the capital, Khartoum, embracing soldiers and climbing on top of armoured vehicles.