General Ahmed Abdun Hammad Mohammed has been removed from his position as the governor of the Sudanese capital Khartoum after refusing to halt religious gather, risking transmission of COVID-19.

Prime Minister, Abdalla Hamdok, according to the BBC, sanctioned the sack of the governor.

As of today, April 17, the Sudanese health ministry has recorded a total of 32 infections and five deaths from the deadly coronavirus.

The BBC reports that General Ahmed refused to implement a decision to ban prayers in mosques and churches due to come into force on Saturday.

There was a clash between the police and supporters of the ousted President Omar al-Bashir earlier in Thursday.

The protesters who were demonstrating against the transitional government's austerity programme were dispersed with teargas by the police.