Sudan's largest opposition bloc calls for Bashir to go

Nidaa al-Sudan, or Sudan's Call, said in a statement on Wednesday that it wanted Bashir and his administration to go and for a transition toward democracy to begin.

MENA

1 min read

The New Arab & agencies

02 January, 2019

Bashir seized power in a 1989 military coup [AFP]

Sudan's largest opposition bloc has joined calls by a wide array of political groups for President Omar al-Bashir to step down, turning up the pressure on the longtime autocrat after two weeks of street protests.

Nidaa al-Sudan, or Sudan's Call, said in a statement on Wednesday that it wanted Bashir and his administration to go and for a transition toward democracy to begin.

Nidaa al-Sudan comprises the Umma party of former Prime Minister Sadeq al-Mahdi and rebel groups in the western Kordofan and Darfur regions, and the Blue Nile region south of Khartoum.

Bashir, who seized power in a 1989 military coup, has ordered the use of force against protesters who have taken to the streets since December 19 to demand his ouster.

Sudan is facing an acute foreign exchange crisis and soaring inflation despite Washington lifting an economic embargo in October 2017.

The foreign exchange crisis has steadily escalated since Sudan's partition in 2011, when South Sudan broke away, taking with it the bulk of oil revenues.

Inflation has hit 70 percent while shortages of bread and fuel have hit several cities.

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