FILE PHOTO: Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir speaks during the signing of a peace deal between the Central African Republic government and 14 armed groups following two weeks of talks in the Sudanese capital Khartoum, Sudan, February 5, 2019. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah/File Photo
KHARTOUM (Reuters) - A parliamentary committee tasked with amending Sudan’s constitution to allow President Omar al-Bashir to run for another term said on Saturday it would indefinitely postpone a meeting to draft these changes, state news agency SUNA said.
The move comes amid almost daily street protests since mid-December, initially sparked by rising food prices and cash shortages, against Bashir’s nearly 30-year rule.
SUNA cited “special emergency commitments” as the cause for the delay without providing further details.
A majority of lawmakers had backed the proposed amendment two weeks before protests broke out and had tasked an emergency committee with drafting the changes ahead of the parliament’s first session in April.
Bashir, an Islamist and former army officer, came to power after a military coup. He won elections in 2010 and 2015 after changes in the constitution following a peace agreement with southern rebels, who then seceded to form South Sudan.
He is now facing unprecedented opposition to his rule, with street protests involving hundreds of people almost every day.
Elections are expected to be held in the spring of 2020.
Reporting by Ahmed Tolba in Cairo and Khalid Abdelaziz in Khartoum, Writing by Nadine Awadalla; Editing by Clelia Oziel
Newer articles:
- South Sudan youths use theater to promote peace, reconciliation - 18/02/2019 03:20
- Sudan Constitution amendment on hold - 18/02/2019 02:55
- Lost boys: Thousands of child soldiers remain trapped in South Sudan bush camps - 18/02/2019 02:22
- Conflict, poverty, hunger fuel child marriages in South Sudan: charity - 18/02/2019 01:46
- South Sudan conducts an Ebola Tabletop Exercise - 16/02/2019 08:07
Older news items
- UN Spots Rape-Impunity Zone in South Sudan’s Unity State - 15/02/2019 19:25
- South Sudanese Woman in Hiding to Avoid Forced Marriage - 15/02/2019 13:59
- Key rebel leader Thomas Cirillo rejects peace deal, won't lay down arms - 15/02/2019 09:43
- South Sudan: $18.3 Million Needed for Health, Protection of Women Affected By Crisis in South Sudan - 15/02/2019 07:16
- South Sudan clashes, local aid partners, and a €500 million grant: The Cheat Sheet - 15/02/2019 05:07
Latest news items (all categories):
- UN experts say South Sudan is close to securing a $13 billion oil-backed loan from a UAE company - 18/05/2024 11:54
- DRC, South Sudan units top Equity’s earnings in first quarter - 18/05/2024 11:49
- Innuendos and tittle tattle of Kiir's regime - 18/05/2024 11:44
- South Sudan government, rebel groups sign pact to achieve lasting peace - 18/05/2024 09:58
- إلى متى ينظر الجميع إلى الفيل و يطعنون ظله..؟ - 15/05/2024 21:51
Random articles (all categories):
- South Sudan religious leaders call for protection force - 02/09/2016 22:11
- Garang Was Murdered, Says Sudan - 17/08/2007 19:30
- South Sudan's Kiir draws “red line” for interim government - 22/06/2014 09:52
- Journeying together for reconciliation - 11/12/2013 09:41
- Sentry New Investigative Report: South Sudan’s National Security Service Operates Ruthless Surveillance State to Protect Vast, Expanding Business Empire - 08/12/2022 00:01
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 35987 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 21878 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 20771 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 17483 times
- With prisons full, South Sudan to introduce mobile courts to clear backlog of cases - 11/10/2012 11:29 - Read 14243 times