

From Voice of America

Sudanese protesters are marching toward courthouses in different cities across the country, including in the capital of Khartoum. It’s the latest in two-and-a-half months of protests that call for the overthrow of autocratic President Omar al-Bashir.

Sunday’s marches were called for by the Sudanese Professionals Association, an umbrella group of independent professional unions that has been spearheading the protests. Al-Bashir has banned unauthorized public gatherings and granted sweeping powers to the police after imposing a state of emergency last month.

But the measure failed to deter protesters who have kept demonstrating. The current wave of unrest erupted in December, initially over rising prices and shortages but quickly turned to calls for the ouster of al-Bashir, who seized power in a 1989 coup. A heavy security crackdown has killed scores.

An earlier Voice of America article contains more information on the unrest:

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has stepped down from his position as chairman of the ruling party. The National Congress Party made the announcement late Thursday, following weeks of protests against Bashir’s rule. The president transferred his party leadership role to NCP deputy chairman Ahmed Harun, until the party’s next general convention.

A NCP party statement said a new president would be chosen at the next general convention. A date for the convention, however, has not been set. The NCP enjoys a sweeping majority in parliament. The party’s chief becomes its candidate for the presidential elections, according to the party’s charter.

Harun’s deputy chairmanship appointment happened in recent days. Like Bashir, Harun is also wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in Sudan’s Darfur region. Bashir recently declared a state of emergency for Sudan, following the wave of protests.

The president also recently established emergency courts to deal with any violations during the state of emergency. On Thursday, the emergency courts in Khartoum sentenced eight protesters to prison, with sentences ranging from five years to six months. The protests initially erupted over rising prices and shortages, but quickly transformed into a call for Bashir to step down from the presidency.