Former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir Hospitalized in Khartoum

Former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has been transferred to a military-run hospital in Khartoum for medical treatment, according to his lawyer, as his family continues to call for permission for him to receive further treatment outside the country.

Bashir, 82, was taken to Khartoum for medical tests after developing symptoms that his lawyer said require further diagnosis and treatment abroad. His lawyer, Mohamed Alhassan Alameen, told Reuters that the former president needs additional medical care that may not be available in Sudan.

The exact medical condition affecting Bashir has not been publicly disclosed. Sudan's military had not immediately responded to Reuters' request for comment when the report was published.

Family Appeals for Treatment Abroad

The development comes after Bashir's family renewed its request for him to be allowed to leave Sudan for medical treatment.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the family said his need for medical care outside the country had become urgent. It also said it had not received official approval for him to travel abroad.

Several prominent Sudanese Islamist figures have also publicly called for Bashir to be transferred out of the country for treatment.

For now, however, he remains in a military-run hospital in Khartoum.

From Prison to Military Custody

Bashir has spent much of the period since his removal from power under detention or military guard.

He was overthrown in April 2019 following months of protests that ended his nearly three-decade rule. He had initially been held in prison and was later moved to a hospital before being transferred to Merowe in northern Sudan, where he remained under military guard.

His latest transfer brings him back to Khartoum, a city that has been at the centre of Sudan's devastating conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces.

The war began in April 2023 after tensions between the two military factions escalated into open fighting. The conflict has caused widespread destruction and a major humanitarian crisis across Sudan.

Bashir's Legal Situation

Bashir's health situation is also taking place against the background of long-running legal proceedings.

The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for him over alleged crimes committed in Darfur, including genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. His case remains in the pre-trial phase at the ICC.

He has also faced legal proceedings inside Sudan. Reuters reports that, after his removal from power, he was convicted of corruption and illicit financing and was serving a prison sentence when the war began.

Any decision to allow him to travel abroad for treatment could therefore carry wider legal and political implications, particularly given his status at the ICC.

For now, the immediate issue is Bashir's health and whether Sudanese authorities will approve treatment outside the country.

His lawyer says further care abroad is needed, while his family is pressing for permission to leave Sudan. At the same time, officials have not publicly provided details about his condition or confirmed whether an overseas transfer has been approved.

The former president's hospitalization is likely to attract attention not only because of his health, but also because of the unresolved legal issues surrounding him and Sudan's continuing war.