Bashir declares state of emergency

Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir

In a move that shows that the panic button has been pressed, Sudan’s president Omar Al Bashir has sacked his cabinet and declared a state of emergency

Bashir has dismissed the federal government and sacked all of the state governors.

Bashir made this announcement in a TV address to the nation. He later appointed members of the security forces as replacement governors.

Earlier, Sudanese national security and intelligence services(NISS) said that Bashir would be stepping down.

Bashir has been the focus of anti government protests in recent weeks. Protestors took to the streets after the announcement in the city of Omdurman,witnesses said, but were met with tear gas by the police.

Demonstrations have been rife in Sudan since December 2018

Bashir  said the demonstrations were an attempt to destabilize the country.

The demonstrations started over cuts to bread and fuel subsidies in December but later morphed into anger at Bashir’s 30-year rule. Rallies have been calling for President Bashir to step down.

More than 1,000 people are reported to have been detained since the protests began. Rights groups say more than 40 people have been killed in clashes with security forces.

Protest organisers have vowed to continue demonstrating until  Bashir leaves power.

Bashir, 75, had initially struck a defiant tone after winning elections several times since coming to power in a coup in 1989.

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