President Bashir declares a state of emergency
Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - President Omar Bashir of Sudan, on Friday declared a state of emergency in the country, dissolving the Federal and State Governments and says a new caretaker government will come in place soon to implement badly needed economic measures.
Addressing the nation from the Republican Palace in Khartoum, the President called on both opposition and pro-government political forces to come together and work towards a durable solution to all problems, top of which is the economic crisis that triggered demonstrations across the country.
President Bashir vowed that he would remain impatial before the opposition and pro-government political forces, hinting that he would distance himself from the ruling National Congress party.
But the president stressed there should never be “a zero option”, meaning attempts by hardliners within the ruling National Congress party and the will not be tolerated.
The president lamented the “hate speeches” creeping into the Sudanese political circle and in the social media, saying he would not tolerate this.
The president sent his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives during the two months demonstrations.
He vowed that those found guilty by a probe panel he set up will be punished.
The President described the protests over economic hardship as legitimate and within the constitution but lamented that some elements, he did not name, wanted to hijack them to serve their own vested agenda.
The President who was making the statement in the presence of all top government officials and military and intelligence leaders, appealed to the armed opposition to come to join the peace process and respond to dialogue.
He said there was no other option but dialogue to resolve all problems in the Sudan.
The President said he would stand as a “national figure”, and called on the parliament to postpone discussions on the constitutional amendments that were tabled before it.
The amendments were intended to give the incumbent president a new term in office in the coming general and presidential elections.
Without those amendments the president would not be able to stand as a presidential candidate in the coming elections in 2020.
The State of emergency will last one one year.
-0- PANA MO/VAO 22Feb2018
