KHARTOUM, Feb 23, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir
declared a nationwide state of emergency on Friday and dissolved the
government in an effort to quell weeks of demonstrations that have rocked his
iron-fisted rule.
Deadly protests have broken out across the east African country since the
government tripled the price of bread on December 19, with demonstrators
accusing the government of mismanaging the nation’s economy and calling on
the veteran leader to step down.
“I announce imposing a state of emergency across the country for one
year,” Bashir said in a televised address to the nation from the presidential
palace in Khartoum.
“I announce dissolving the government at the federal level and at the
provincial levels,” he added.
Protest organisers vowed to press on with their demonstrations until
Bashir steps down.
“We are calling on our people to continue with demonstrations until the
main aim of this uprising, which is the stepping down of the regime chief, is
achieved,” said the Sudanese Professionals Association which is spearheading
the campaign, just after Bashir announced a state of emergency.
Late on Friday, crowds of protesters took to the streets in Omdurman, the
twin city of Khartoum, but were quickly confronted with tear gas by riot
police, witnesses said.
Hours after he made his announcements, Bashir issued two presidential
decrees appointing 16 army officers and two security officers as new
governors for the country’s 18 provinces.
He also announced that five members of the outgoing cabinet, including
ministers for foreign affairs, defence and justice, would retain their
portfolios.
– Soaring inflation –
Bashir has remained defiant in the face of demonstrations, dismissing
protesters’ calls for him to step down after three decades in power.
Demonstrations first erupted in the farming town of Atbara but the rallies
swiftly mushroomed into a major challenge to Bashir’s rule.
Officials say 31 people have died in the violence while Human Rights Watch
says at least 51 people have been killed including medics and children.
The country’s feared National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) has
launched a sweeping crackdown to quell the protests, jailing hundreds of
protesters, opposition leaders, activists and journalists.
Bashir, 75, swept to power in an Islamist-backed coup in 1989 that
overthrew the elected government of then premier Sadiq al-Mahdi.
It is not the first time Bashir has imposed a nationwide emergency. He did
so in December 1999 when a political crisis erupted after he broke away with
his then mentor Islamist Hassan al-Turabi.
– ‘Difficult situation’ –
On Friday, he said he had asked to postpone meetings of a parliamentary
panel that was set up to look into amending the country’s constitution to
allow a third presidential term. He did not elaborate.
Bashir is considering running for a third term after he was chosen as a
candidate by his ruling National Congress Party for the election due next
year.
Sudan’s financial woes were long a cause of popular frustration before the
anger spilt onto the streets after the bread price hike.
Soaring inflation along with acute foreign currency shortages have
battered the economy, especially after the independence of South Sudan in
2011 took away the bulk of oil earnings.
“Our country is suffering from a difficult and complicated situation, the
most difficult in its history,” said Bashir, dressed in a turban and
traditional Sudanese robe, in front of a group of advisers and outgoing
ministers.
“The economic issue needs to be tackled by qualified people and for this I
will form a government made of people of quality,” he said.
The protest campaign has emerged as the biggest challenge the veteran
leader has faced.
From the provinces to the streets of the capital, the demonstrations have
spread through villages, towns and cities across the country.
They have drawn in a cross section of society including middle-class
professionals, agricultural labourers, youths and Bashir’s political
opponents — with thousands of women and men rallying across the country on
some days.
Only the three conflict zones of Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan have
remained largely untouched.
Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court to face charges of
war crimes and genocide arising out of the long-running conflict in Darfur.
He denies the charges.
Protest organisers have called on political groups to join their movement
by signing a “Document for Freedom and Change”.
The text outlines a post-Bashir plan including rebuilding Sudan’s justice
system and halting the country’s dire economic decline, the key reason for
the nationwide demonstrations.
Bashir has countered the anti-government demonstrations with his own
rallies, promising economic development and promoting peace.