KHARTOUM: Sudan's deposed military leader Omar al-Bashir, whose trial on corruption charges opened on Monday, ruled his country with an iron fist for 30 years.
Here are key dates in his life and career:
- January 1, 1944: Bashir is born to a farming family in the village of Hosh Bannaga, 100 kilometres (60 miles) north of the capital Khartoum.
- 1973: A soldier from a young age, Bashir fights alongside the Egyptian army in the Arab-Israeli war.
- June 30, 1989: As brigade commander and with the backing of Islamists, Bashir seizes power in a coup against the democratically elected government.
- 2003: Bashir sends troops and militiamen to crush a rebellion in the western region of Darfur. The conflict claims more than 300,000 lives, according to the UN.
- 2009: The International Criminal Court issues a warrant for Bashir's arrest for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur. The following year it issues a warrant for committing genocide. He denies the charges.
- 2010: Bashir is elected president in the first multiparty election since he took power, which is boycotted by the opposition. He is re-elected in 2015.
- 2013: Demonstrations against Bashir's government erupt after a hike in petrol prices. Officials say dozens are killed in related violence.
- April 11, 2019: Bashir is removed from office by the military and detained after months of nationwide rallies demanding he step down, which began in December 2018.
- May 13, 2019: Bashir is charged over killings of protesters during the anti-regime demonstrations.
- August 19, 2019: Bashir's trial on corruption charges opens in Khartoum.
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